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Serpent liane © Charles Rostand

The green vine snake

The green vine snake has a strong presence in South America, Suriname and French Guiana. This tree-dwelling species lives in forest environments or on the edge of forests.

Profile

Class, order and family :
Sauropsida, squamata, colubridae
Lifespan :
up to 15 years (in captivity)
Height & weight :
from 1 to 1.60 m / around 200 g
Incubation :
92-94 days, 4 to 8 eggs
Natural habitat :
sparse forests, shrubs
Diet :
carnivores, lizards, amphibians
Native region :
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico

Lifestyle

Green vine snakes use the rough edges of the bark to help them climb trees. They can hang from branches for hours waiting for an amphibian or small lizard to pass.

Distinctive features

This snake has a very slender body and a pointed head. With the exception of its yellow throat, its colour blends in with that of the branches and creepers: this is known as homochromy.

Anecdote

In the wild, females and males do not live in close proximity. It is therefore impossible to display the pair present at the zoo in the same terrarium. Contact is controlled, one week a year. Several hatchlings have been observed at the zoo, a rare occurrence in captivity.