Green tree python

Morelia viridis

Irish Name: Glasphíotón crainn
IUCN Status: Least concern

The green tree python is a bright green nonvenomous snake. They have a slender body, sometimes with small markings, and a yellow underbelly. Their tail is prehensile (can grasp), which helps them climb and catch prey. They spend most of their time in trees and can often be seen looped around branches.

Green tree python

Morelia viridis

Irish Name: Glasphíotón crainn
IUCN Status: Least concern

The green tree python is a bright green nonvenomous snake. They have a slender body, sometimes with small markings, and a yellow underbelly. Their tail is prehensile (can grasp), which helps them climb and catch prey. They spend most of their time in trees and can often be seen looped around branches.

General Information

Where do they live? (Natural habitat)

Green tree pythons are found in tropical forests in New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, and the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland Australia. They are arboreal (spend most of their time in trees), but also come down to the ground, particularly at night.

How long do they live?

They live 15-20 years

What do they eat?

Green tree pythons eat small mammals and reptiles

Group name

They are normally solitary animals, so do not have a group name.

Zoo location

Zoorassic World

Closest related species / sister species

The green tree python is most closely related to other members of the Morelia genus including the rough-scaled python and southern carpet python.

Animal class

Reptilia

Animal order

Squamata

Fun facts

Ready to strike

Green tree pythons have a special hunting technique. They wrap themselves around branches and dangle the tip of their tail to lure their prey, then strike out and constrict it.

Emerald boa

In a phenomenon known as parallel evolution, green tree pythons look and act very much like the emerald tree boa of South America, to which it is not closely related. This is because although they come from different continents, their habitats are so similar that it has resulted in them having very similar traits.

Camoflage

The green tree python’s vivid green colouration provides camouflage for them as they rest or move through the trees.

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Family Life

Green tree pythons are solitary, and only come together to breed. They breed during late autumn and winter. The females lays up to 32 eggs often in the hollow of a tree, and coils around the eggs to incubate them until they hatch. Hatchlings range in colour from bright yellow to brick-red; they don't turn green until maturity.

Baby name

Hatchling

Gestation (pregnancy) period

Approximately 52 days

Number of young at birth

They lay between 6-32 eggs

Age at maturity

2-3 years

Size adult

1.5 – 2 m in length and 1.1-1.5 kg in weight. Females are slightly larger and heavier than males.

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Conservation

Least Concern

The green tree python is classified as of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Current population estimate

There hasn't been an in-depth survey to determine the population.

Threats

The main threat facing green tree pythons is capture and collection for the pet trade.

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FAQs

  • Where does the green tree python live?

    Green tree pythons are found in tropical forests in New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, and the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland Australia. They are arboreal (spend most of their time in trees), but also come down to the ground, particularly at night.

  • What do green tree pythons eat?

    Green tree pythons eat small mammals and reptiles.

  • How many eggs does a green tree python lay?

    They lay between 6-32 eggs.

  • How big do green tree pythons get?

    They grow from 1.5-2 m long.

  • How long does a green tree python live?

    They live 15-20 years.

  • Is the green tree python venomous?

    Green tree pythons are nonvenomous. They are constrictors and ambush predators – they capture prey by using their tail to hold onto a branch and then striking out and constricting their prey.

  • Are green tree pythons endangered?

    Green tree pythons are classified as of Least Concern by the IUCN, meaning they are not currently endangered.

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