Pythonidae
Green Python
Morelia viridis
A non-venomous tree-dwelling python of north-eastern Cape York; adults are green and young snakes are yellow.
Non-venomous
Identification and appearance
Adults are green, with white markings along the spine and a darker green midline. Young snakes are yellow before changing to adult green.
Other names
Green Tree Python, Southern Green Python
Typical length
AROD reports an average of 120 cm and a maximum of 200 cm.
Key identification features
- Green arboreal python
- Yellow juvenile colouring
- White vertebral markings
- Queensland record
Where it is found
In Australia, recorded from north-eastern Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. The species also occurs in New Guinea and nearby islands.
Habitat
In Australia, Green Pythons live in the rainforests and vine thickets of north-eastern Cape York. Field surveys found them in these forests but not in the sampled woodland, swamp, heath or grassland.
Diet
Mammals, birds, small skinks, geckos and frogs.
Reproduction
Egg-laying.
Medical significance
Non-venomous, but capable of biting. If identity is uncertain and a bite is suspected, call 000 and follow snakebite first aid.
What to do if you encounter one
Keep clear and do not handle it. Use a qualified snake catcher or local wildlife authority if it is trapped near people.
Sources checked
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