Boidae
Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa
HarmlessCorallus batesii
6 photographs of the Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa. © Lucas Illanes.
The Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus batesii) is a non-venomous snake in the Boidae family, recorded in 5 countries.
- Family
- Boidae
About the Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa
Corallus batesii, also known commonly as the Amazon Basin emerald tree boa, is a species of snake in the subfamily Boinae of the family Boidae. The species is native to the tropical rainforests of South America. This species was revalidated from the synonymy of Corallus caninus by Henderson and colleagues in 2009.
Taxonomy and etymology
English naturalist John Edward Gray originally described this species as Chrysenis batesii in 1860. The specific name, batesii, is in honor of Henry Walter Bates, an English naturalist and explorer, for whom Batesian mimicry is also named.
Description
The Amazon Basin emerald tree boa has a yellow belly. The dorsum is dark green with an enamel-white vertebral stripe, which has confluent partial crossbars, often bordered by some black spots. C. batesii differs from C. caninus by the shape and the number of scales across the snout. C. batesii is bigger than C. caninus, growing to a total length (including tail) approaching 9 feet (2.7 m).
Behavior
Corallus batesii is arboreal, and it is both diurnal and nocturnal.
Diet
Corallus batesii is capable of hunting small airborne prey, such as bats and birds, as well as rodents, opossums, lizards (including Thecadactylus solimoensis), and other snakes (including Bothrops atrox).
Reproduction
Corallus batesii is ovoviviparous.
Geographic range and habitat
Corallus batesii, the "Amazon Basin species", as the common name suggests, is only found in the basin of the Amazon River, in southern Suriname, southern Venezuela to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil and in the surrounding jungles of the Amazon River. It is found at elevations from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa
- Is the Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa venomous?
- No. The Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus batesii) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa dangerous?
- The Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa live?
- The Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa has verified records in 5 countries, including Peru, Brazil, Colombia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa eat?
- Corallus batesii is capable of hunting small airborne prey, such as bats and birds, as well as rodents, opossums, lizards (including Thecadactylus solimoensis), and other snakes (including Bothrops atrox).
- Why is it called the Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boa?
- English naturalist John Edward Gray originally described this species as Chrysenis batesii in 1860. The specific name, batesii, is in honor of Henry Walter Bates, an English naturalist and explorer, for whom Batesian mimicry is also named.
Where it is found
More Boidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.