Appearance:
Emerald tree boas may be bright green as adults, but they’re born with striking red or orange coloration, which gradually shifts to emerald between 6 months and 1 year of age. They also have exceptionally large front teeth—the largest, proportionally, of any non-venomous snake. Tree boas get their distinctive coiled pose from their prehensile tail, which they use to anchor themselves in a tree.
Size:
- Length: 4–6 feet
- Weight: Females are typically larger, weighing up to 4 pounds, while males range from 2–3 pounds.
- At Birth: Hatchlings weigh between 1.8–3.7 pounds and measure 15.7–19.8 inches long.
Diet:
This species is carnivorous and feeds on small mammals, some smaller bird species, lizards and frogs.
Reproduction:
Females reach sexual maturity at 4–5 years old, while males mature slightly earlier at 3–4 years. Breeding occurs every two years, with females giving birth to 3–20 offspring. With a gestation period of seven months, emerald tree boas are ovoviviparous—meaning the young develop inside eggs that hatch within the mother’s body before birth.
Behavior:
Emerald tree boas are solitary outside the breeding season, and their young are fully independent at birth, requiring no maternal care.
Primarily nocturnal, they spend much of their time coiled on tree branches with their head at the center. At night, they extend their head downward, patiently waiting to ambush prey.
Like other snakes, emerald tree boas rely on chemical signals to communicate, using their tongues and vomeronasal organs to detect scents in their environment.
Habitat/range:
Emerald tree boas are arboreal and can be found in the canopies of lowland tropical rainforests in northern South America, from Brazil to Bolivia.
Threats:
This snake’s biggest threats are deforestation and the illegal pet trade.
Median Life Expectancy:
An exact age is not known in the wild, but it is thought to be an average of 15 years.
