Green tree python

Scientific name: Morelia viridis

Country: Papua New Guinea, Australia, Indonesia

Continent: Asia, Oceania

Diet: Lizards, birds, mammals

Food & feeding: Carnivore

Habitats: Tropical rainforest

Conservation status: Not Threatened, but the species is CITES Appendix II listed because of the threat from the wildlife trade.

Relatives: Amethystine python

Description: The Green Tree Python is one of several members of the genus Morelia.
Green Tree Pythons used to be classified as there own genus of Chondropython at which point they were the only member. They have however recently been re-classified as Morellia viridis, thus joining many other Australian pythons with the change.

The vivid green colouring, flecked with blue, white and yellow, provides excellent camouflage and makes it very difficult to detect amongst foliage. The green tree python can reach lengths of about 2 m, with males tending to be larger than females. They are non-venomous snakes, that feed on lizards, birds and other arboreal (tree-living) vertebrates. Their feeding is enhanced by greatly enlarged front teeth, which enable the snake to grasp and hold its prey.

The green tree python provides an excellent example of parallel evolution. It looks and behaves in a very similar manner to the emerald tree boa, which is found in South America rather than Asia, however, there are significant differences. For example, the emerald tree boa gives birth to live young whereas the python lays eggs.

Lifestyle: It is essentially an arboreal snake, which has developed a prehensile (grasping) tail to aid its movement amongst the branches. Much of its time is spent coiled around branches, so that their head lies in the middle of the coil. This is an unusual resting position for snakes.

Family & friends: Like most snakes, green tree pythons are solitary, except in the breeding season.

Growing up: The female green tree python breeds once a year, laying about 15-20 eggs in a hole in a tree or amongst tree roots on the ground. Like other pythons, she coils around the eggs and shivers to keep them warm during the incubation period until they hatch after about two months. In the Zoo, the female lays her eggs in a wooden nest box. They are then removed by the keepers and kept in an incubator. Newly hatched pythons are lemon yellow or brick red in colour and do not develop the adult green colouring for six to eight months.

Conservation news: Due to their bright colour, these snakes are popular with reptile collectors. They have been listed as part of CITES Appendix II - an international treaty that restricts trade in listed species.

Green tree pythons have an amazing way of attracting prey to within grabbing distance. They dangle the end of their tail over the end of a branch and wiggle the end, attracting curious animals to their death.