Emerald Tree Boa

Physical description

The emerald tree boa is the color of emerald green with white stripes or dots of white scales along its back. The emerald tree boa uses its color for camouflage in the foliage where it lives. The white stripes help to make their outline less visible to predators. Their head is very broad, and they have a prehensile tail. A prehensile tail means that their tail can be used for grasping objects or being another limb while climbing. The emerald tree boa’s eyes are vertical which helps them see in the dark. They also have heat sensing pits which allow them to see their preys warm blood. The emerald tree boa’s teeth face backwards to help them catch prey and not let the prey escape. They are around five to six and a half feet long and they weigh up to six and a half pounds.

Diet

Emerald tree boas are constrictors, which means instead of injecting venom into there prey, they squeeze it with their bodies until their prey suffocates. They usually eat lizards, rodents, and small mammals. They are also ambush predators. They hang on a tree branch waiting for prey to walk by, then they strike and bite their prey to hold on to it and then constrict it. Like all snakes, they swallow their food whole. If they get a good meal, then they do not have to eat for almost a month due to their slow metabolism.

Habitat and Range

Emerald tree boas live in South America. They live in the countries, Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Bolivia, and Venezuela. Emerald tree boas live in tropical rainforests. They are often are near bodies of water like lakes and rivers.

Fun Facts

The amazon basin emerald tree boas scientific name is Corallus caninus. They can live up to 20 years old. Young Emerald tree boas are orange and red and grow up and turn emerald. Male tree boas are two to three pounds and the females can get up to four pounds. They are also nocturnal. They bask in the sun during the day but do not move around. There are two species of emerald tree boa. There is the Amazon Basin emerald tree boa and the Guiana Shield emerald tree boa. The Green tree python is very similar to the emerald tree boa, but the emerald tree boa only lives in South America, and the green tree python live in Australia and Asia. Green tree pythons have white dots that are small and that run down there back in a line. The young tree boas are prey to most reptiles, rodents, mammals, and amphibians. The adults are mainly just prey to Crested and Harpy eagles. Emerald tree boas can have around 5 to 20 baby tree boas. The young tree boas can care for themselves and do not need to be taken care of by their parents. They also do not lay eggs.

Emerald Tree Boa | The Animal Facts | Appearance, Behavior, Habitat

46 Emerald Tree Boa Facts: Both Species Guide (Jewel of the Amazon) | Everywhere Wild