Green Tree Python

Conservation status:  IUCN – LC (Least concern); CITES – Appendix II

Geographic range: Australia (Queensland), Indonesia, Papua New Guinea.

Physical description: This medium-sized snake, grows to between 1,5 and 2,2 m in length and can weigh up to about 1,5 kg. This python is well adapted to live in the trees and is bright green with some white spots. It has a slim body and a very long tail with a disproportionally large head. It is very difficult to notice this snake in the wild and like most snakes, the females are bigger than males. 

Biology: These pythons spend almost all of their lives living in the trees: they hunt, feed and even drink water from the leaves. They hunt small reptiles and mammals with their 2,5 cm long teeth. Pythons are different from boas because they lay eggs and the females protect these until they hatch, whereas boas typically give birth to live offspring and do not take care of them. Also, pythons have highly developed spots in the face area that are sensitive to heat. 

Lifespan: In the wild 15 – 19 years, in captivity up to 21 years.

Food habits: Their main food – birds, sometimes – lizards and rodents.