Rainforest reminiscences
By Richard Bartlett · March 4, 2014 6:22 am
With its Pinocchio nose and leaf green dorsumm the green vine snake, Oxybelis fulgidus, is an eagerly sought species on each of our Peruvian rainforest tours.
We occasionally see this interesting diurnal snake while it is active during the day. However, most are found while they are sleeping, coiled loosely in a palm or tree crotch.
At 5.5 feet in total length, this pretty rear-fanged snake is also of proportionately greater girth than its congeners. A narrow white line separates the forest green dorsal and lateral color from the somewhat lighter belly.
Lizards, frogs, nestling birds and tiny mammals such as mice and mouse opossums are eaten.
More photos under the jump...
Green vine snakes often remain still when approached, relying on their camouflage to avoid detection.:
A green vine snake in a defensive posture:
 Author, photographer, and columnist Richard Bartlett is one of the most prolific writers on herpetological subjects in the 20th century. With hundreds of books and articles to their credit, Richard and his wife Pat have spent over four decades documenting reptiles both in the field and in captivity. For a list of their current titles, please visit their page in our bookstore. |
