Green tree python

The green snake of the trees

The green tree python (Morelia viridis) is a python of brilliant emerald green, often flecked with white or blue spots along the back. It can reach about 2 metres in length and 1.6 kg in weight, with females slightly larger than males. It is famous for its typical resting pose: it drapes itself in neat, symmetrical loops over a branch, with its head resting in the centre. It is non-venomous, killing its prey by constriction.

Habitat and range

It lives in the rainforests of New Guinea, some islands of Indonesia and the Cape York Peninsula in northern Australia. It is an almost entirely arboreal species, spending most of its life among the branches of the understorey and canopy.

Behaviour and diet

It is an ambush predator: it stays motionless, coiled over a branch, and seizes small reptiles and mammals that pass within reach, striking swiftly and constricting them. Its prehensile tail serves as a lure to attract prey. It is active mainly at night.

Did you know?

The young are not born green: they are yellow or red, and take on the adult green colouring only after several months or years. Its beauty has made it one of the most kept snakes, with the risk of intense smuggling of wild-caught individuals.

Conservation

The IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is not considered threatened, but illegal capture for the exotic pet trade and forest loss are local pressures; captive-bred animals are the better choice.