The green tree python and emerald tree boa are separated by oceans yet identical

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Half a world apart, the green tree python of New Guinea and the emerald tree boa of South America evolved to look and act almost exactly the same. This striking case of convergent evolution left both species with vivid green scales, heat-sensing pits, and a unique way of resting in trees.

The green tree python, known scientifically as Morelia viridis, is an arboreal snake native to the tropical rainforests of New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, and Australia's Cape York Peninsula. Its most famous trait is its vibrant green coloration, which provides essential camouflage among the leaves of tall trees. Interestingly, these snakes are not born green; juveniles emerge from their eggs in bright yellow, red, or red-brown hues, only developing their characteristic adult color after six to twelve months. This shift in appearance is thought to help them blend into different environments as they grow.

The physical similarities between the green tree python and the South American emerald tree boa are a classic example of convergent evolution. Despite being unrelated—the python lays eggs while the boa bears live young—both species have evolved elongated heads, large golden eyes, and a distinct resting posture where they drape their bodies over branches with their heads nestled in the center of the loops. Both snakes also possess specialized pit organs around their lips that detect the heat signatures of nearby prey, allowing them to hunt effectively in the dark.

In the wild, these pythons are primarily nocturnal, using their prehensile tails to anchor themselves to branches while they wait to strike at small mammals and reptiles. While they spend most of their lives in the canopy, they occasionally descend to the forest floor. Their survival is currently challenged by habitat loss due to logging and the pressures of the international pet trade. Conservation efforts, including CITES protections and captive breeding programs, aim to mitigate these threats, as the species remains a popular but demanding subject for exotic animal enthusiasts.

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