The Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus) is a non-venomous reptile in the Boidae family of boid snakes, such as the Boa and the Anaconda.
The Emerald Tree Boa is bright green with white zig-zag markings on its back and belly, called lightning bolts. Its belly is yellow. It has long frontal fangs.
Emerald Tree Boa
It measures about 180 centimetres (71 inches) long.
The Emerald Tree Boa is native to the northern regions of South America, particularly in Brazil and Columbia, and from Venezuela to Suriname. It prefers tropical rainforests, especially the Amazon jungle.
It eats small mammals, and sometimes birds and lizards. It eats once every two or three months.
The Emerald Tree Boa is ovoviviparous, which means that the eggs hatch inside the female and the snakelets are born alive. The female produces 6-14 young. The snakelets may be orange in colour and gradually turn emerald green when they are 9-12 months old.
Emerald Tree Boa
Location of photographs: Paris Zoo, France and the Parc Zoologique de Paris in Bois de Vincennes, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM