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Morelia viridis

(Green Tree Python)

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

Green Tree Python

Common Names in German:

Gruner Baumpython, Grüner Baumpython

Description

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Physical Description

Species Morelia viridis

Adult length 2.1 m for large specimen, an average specimen is 1.8 m, fairly slender snake that coils around branches (looks like a cinnamon bun). They have thermosensory pits along the upper and lower labials . Generally, they are a vibrant green in color but some adults are blue or yellow. They have a series of white or blue dorsal and/or lateral spots evident in most. The hatchlings are extremely variable in color from brick red to lemon yellow to brown. Strangely enough, all of these colors can be found in the same clutch .

Habitat

humid, warm tropical regions . They are arboreal , living in elevations from sea level to 1,850 m.

Biology

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Diet

Small rodents (mice, rabbits) and birds.

Reproduction

Hatchlings can change colors rapidly beginning when the babies are a few weeks old, or may be slower taking over two years. Breeding season lasts from late August to late December and the eggs are laid in late November to February. The female must have an elevated nesting box or the eggs will drop to the ground . The incubation period is from 39 to 65 days. It is important to keep the males separated due to competition .

Behavior

Evidence show that they ground forage at night and sleep during the day. The thermosensory pits help them notice changes in temperature . An example would be if a warm blooded animal came within range , the python would be able to notice the temperature change. The same would be true if a cold blooded animal came within range.

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Chondropython azureus Meyer 1874: 134
  2. Chondropython pulcher Sauvage 1878: 37
  3. Chondropython viridis Boulenger 1893: 90
  4. Chondropython viridis — Cogger 2000: 603
  5. Chondropython viridis — De Rooij 1917: 29
  6. Chondropython viridis — Stimson 1969
  7. Morelia viridis — Kivit & Wiseman 2000
  8. Morelia viridis — Kluge 1993
  9. Morelia viridis — Mcdiarmid, Campbell & TourÉ 1999: 175
  10. Python viridis Schlegel 1872: 54

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

The scientific name changed in 1994 from Chondropython viridis to Morelia verdis reflecting its close relationship with carpet pythons.

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Morelia

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 35 species and subspecies in this genus:

M. kinghorni · M. amethistina (Amethystine Or Scrub Python) · M. amethistina kinghorni (Scrub Python) · M. amethistinus · M. amethystina · M. argus · M. boeleni · M. bredli (Centralian Carpet Python) · M. carinata (Rough-Scaled Python) · M. clastolepis · M. kinghorni · M. macburniei · M. metcalfei · M. mippughae · M. nauta · M. oenpelliensis (Oenpelli Rock Python) · M. spilota (Carpet Python) · M. spilota cheynei · M. spilota harrisoni · M. spilota imbricata (Western Australian Carpet Python) · M. spilota macrospila · M. spilota mcdowelli · M. spilota metcalfei · M. spilota spilota (Western Australian Carpet Python) · M. spilota variegata · M. spilotes · M. spilotes metcalfei · M. spilotes variegata · M. tracyae · M. variegata · M. viridis (Green Tree Python) · M. viridis shireenae · M. viridis viridis (Green Tree Python) · M. kinghorni · M. spilota

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 27, 2008:

Identifiers

Last Revised: 7/2/2009