They are not to be confused with the "green vine snake" Oxybelis fulgidus, which convergently appears very similar but is found in Central and South America.

[4][5] Their closest relative is the monotypic genus Proahaetulla, which Ahaetulla diverged from an estimated 26.57 million years ago, during the mid-Oligocene.

Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of India are major hotspots of diversity for the genus, with at least 10 of the currently-described species being endemic to these regions.

[9] All Ahaetulla species are characterized by thin, elongated bodies, with extremely long tails and a sharply triangular shaped head.

[citation needed] Ahaetulla species are not yet frequently captive bred, as are many of the more popular snakes in the reptile keeping hobby.