The Green Tree Python (Morelia viridis) is a non-venomous reptile in the Pythonidae family of python snakes. It is native to the tropical regions of northern Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
It is bright green with a slim body and a large head. It is arboreal, living in trees. It loops itself over a tree branch, making a coil with its head in the middle.
The shape of a snake’s head can often indicate whether it is venomous or non-venomous. Non-venomous snakes generally have a spoon-shaped, rounded head. Some venomous snakes have a triangular head. The Green Tree Python is non-venomous with a rounded head.
Its snout (nose) is large and angular. Its eyes are yellowish with vertical pupils.
Near its nostrils, it has a rostral shield, as well as several nasal shields, and two inter-nasal shields. Between its nostrils and its eyes, it has two loreal shields. At the side of its eyes, towards it body, it has several temporal shields.
There are small white or yellowish scales dotted over its ridged spine. It can grow to 200 centimetres (79 inches) in length.
Location of photographs: Paris Zoo, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
