Morelia viridis, known as the green python, is a species of tree snake that inhabits the rainforests of New Guinea, northeastern Australia, and some surrounding islands. This snake is famous for its striking emerald green color in the adult stage, which allows it to effectively camouflage itself among the dense foliage of its natural environment. Morelia viridis is a non-venomous python, which is noted for its arboreal behavior, spending most of its life in trees.
The average size of the green python is approximately 1.5 to 2 meters in length, although some specimens can reach up to 2.5 meters. Its body is slender and muscular, with a prehensile tail that allows it to hold on to branches while hunting or resting. In its juvenile stage, Morelia viridis has a very different coloration, with shades that vary between bright yellow, orange and brown, depending on the region of origin. As they mature, at around two years of age, they gradually change to their characteristic vibrant green, although some individuals may retain white or blue spotting patterns.
As a nocturnal hunter, Morelia viridis feeds primarily on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Its hunting strategy involves hanging from branches and ambushing its prey, using its body to suffocate and then swallow the prey whole. Despite its solitary nature, the green python is a relatively calm snake and generally not aggressive, although it may display defensive behavior if it feels threatened.
An interesting aspect of Morelia viridis is its characteristic posture when resting: it usually coils around branches in a compact spiral with its head resting in the center of its body, giving it a very distinctive appearance. This posture not only facilitates camouflage, but also allows it to be ready to attack quickly in case a prey passes by.
As for its reproduction, this snake is oviparous, depositing between 12 and 25 eggs per laying. Females care for the eggs until they hatch, which occurs after about two months of incubation. The juveniles are completely independent when they are born and immediately begin hunting small prey.
Approximate measurements of the Morelia viridis (without trunk):
The average size of the green python is approximately 1.5 to 2 meters in length, although some specimens can reach up to 2.5 meters. Its body is slender and muscular, with a prehensile tail that allows it to hold on to branches while hunting or resting. In its juvenile stage, Morelia viridis has a very different coloration, with shades that vary between bright yellow, orange and brown, depending on the region of origin. As they mature, at around two years of age, they gradually change to their characteristic vibrant green, although some individuals may retain white or blue spotting patterns.
As a nocturnal hunter, Morelia viridis feeds primarily on small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Its hunting strategy involves hanging from branches and ambushing its prey, using its body to suffocate and then swallow the prey whole. Despite its solitary nature, the green python is a relatively calm snake and generally not aggressive, although it may display defensive behavior if it feels threatened.
An interesting aspect of Morelia viridis is its characteristic posture when resting: it usually coils around branches in a compact spiral with its head resting in the center of its body, giving it a very distinctive appearance. This posture not only facilitates camouflage, but also allows it to be ready to attack quickly in case a prey passes by.
As for its reproduction, this snake is oviparous, depositing between 12 and 25 eggs per laying. Females care for the eggs until they hatch, which occurs after about two months of incubation. The juveniles are completely independent when they are born and immediately begin hunting small prey.
Approximate measurements of the Morelia viridis (without trunk):
- Scale 1:2 Assembly Complete
- Length 63 mm
- Height 150 mm
- Width 70 mm
- Snout-tail length 700 mm
- Scale 1:1 Complete
- Length 125 mm
- Height 300 mm
- Width 140 mm
- Snout-tail length 1400 mm
