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Green Tree Python Common Name: Green Tree Python Scientific Name: Morelia Viridis Information Sheet - Green Tree Python
Introduction:The Green Tree Python, which is non-venomous snake, belongs to the python species; this snake is common in areas such as the Indonesian islands, New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula in Australia. This snake is arboreal and the adults have a conspicuous green color.Description:The adult snakes have an average length ranging between ninety to one hundred and twenty centimeters; the maximum length that a Green Tree Python can grow is two hundred and thirteen centimeters.The Morelia viridis have scales that consist of thermo receptive pits. These snakes have vertebral stripes that are either yellow or white in color. These snakes also have spots all over their bodies; the spots are mostly blue though other snakes have light green spots on their bodies. Green Tree pythons occasionally have cyanomorphs, which are blue morphs. Geographic Range:Green Tree Pythons are common in Papua New Guinea in regions such as d’Entrecasteaux islands and the Normanby Islands. A person can also find these snakes in Indonesia especially in regions such as the Aru Islands, Salawati, Schouten Islands and Misool. They are also common in places such as Cape York Peninsula and Queensland, which are both in Australia. Green Tree Pythons are sympatric especially with the morelia spilota; this is the reason why they share an ecological niche. Habitat:These snakes live in rainforest areas, shrubs and bushes.Conservation:The danger that these snakes face is the destruction of their habitat especially in some parts of the Western New Guinea; the Indonesians occupy this region and their government regularly logs the rainforests to obtain timber. There are also Papuan natives who live in the rainforests and feed on the snakes; if the trend continues, the snakes may become extinct in this region.Behavior:Green Tree Pythons are primarily arboreal and they spend most of the daytime resting on the tree branches; they do this by coiling themselves around the branches and then placing their heads in between.This behavior is very similar to that of the corallus caninus, alternatively known as Emerald Tree Boa. The resemblance in appearance and behavior causes people to confuse the two if viewed from a distance. Feeding:Green tree snakes feed on small mammals like rodents; they sometimes feed on reptiles especially during the cold season. These snakes capture their prey by striking them using their tail; they strike their prey when still holding on to a branch.Reproduction:Female Green Tree Pythons lay from twelve to twenty-five eggs at a time; the female snakes incubate and protect the eggs by keeping them in a tree’s hollow part. The hatchlings have a lemon yellow color and some of them have broken brown spots and purple stripes. As the hatchlings grow, they lose their yellowish color and attain the green color.Captivity:People breed these snakes and keep them in captivity; people breed them for the reason that Green Tree Pythons need specific attention. However, it is important to note that the green tree snake is not easily tamed and can have parasites on their bodies. |
