Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)
Emerald tree boas are found in lowland tropical rainforests in the Amazonian and Guianan regions of South America. They can grow to be over 2 m in length.
Just like all other species within the genus Corallus these are primarily tree dwellers, only rarely coming down to the floor. They have perfect camouflage, being green with white spots or bars. In the wild they will eat anything which passes them by, including small mammals, lizards and birds. Any food which passes by will be lifted off the ground in a flash, the snake will immediately throw a few coils around it and kill and eat the prey item. As ambush predators their well-developed labial heat receptors allow them to see any heat emitting from approaching animals. Prey is grasped with the long frontal teeth, pulled in and constricted to asphyxiation.
Perhaps even more than for their beauty, emerald tree boas are known for their aggressive demeanor. Most arboreal, or tree dwelling snakes are. A bite from an emerald tree boa packs a punch, as they have the largest teeth of any non-venomous snake in the world!
Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)
Emerald tree boas are found in lowland tropical rainforests in the Amazonian and Guianan regions of South America. They can grow to be over 2 m in length.
Just like all other species within the genus Corallus these are primarily tree dwellers, only rarely coming down to the floor. They have perfect camouflage, being green with white spots or bars. In the wild they will eat anything which passes them by, including small mammals, lizards and birds. Any food which passes by will be lifted off the ground in a flash, the snake will immediately throw a few coils around it and kill and eat the prey item. As ambush predators their well-developed labial heat receptors allow them to see any heat emitting from approaching animals. Prey is grasped with the long frontal teeth, pulled in and constricted to asphyxiation.
Perhaps even more than for their beauty, emerald tree boas are known for their aggressive demeanor. Most arboreal, or tree dwelling snakes are. A bite from an emerald tree boa packs a punch, as they have the largest teeth of any non-venomous snake in the world!