# Green Tree Python (*Morelia viridis*)

> The green tree python (Morelia viridis) is a lime-green New Guinea snake that drapes in loops over branches. Adults reach about 1.8 m, hunt mammals and birds at night, and are listed Least Concern.

- **Category:** Reptile
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** New Guinea and nearby islands into northern Australia's Cape York.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/green-tree-python/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Reptilia
- **Order:** Squamata
- **Family:** Pythonidae
- **Genus:** Morelia

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Morelia viridis |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Rainforest canopy |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years |
| Weight | 1–2 kg |
| Top speed | up to 8 km/h |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Looping arboreal predator

Adults sit coiled on branches, head resting in the centre of the loop. Juveniles may be yellow or red before turning brilliant green — convergent with emerald tree boas.

## Rodents, birds, and lizards

Heat-sensitive pits line the jaw for night strikes at birds and small mammals. Prey is constricted and swallowed whole while the snake remains anchored on the perch.

## New Guinea and Cape York

Rainforest canopy of New Guinea and nearby islands, plus northern Queensland's Cape York Peninsula. Humid lowland forest is primary habitat.

## Captive-bred ambassador

Least Concern wild populations face local collection pressure, but most pets today are captive-bred. Habitat loss matters more than trade in remote forests.

## Frequently asked questions

### Are green tree pythons the same as emerald tree boas?

No — they are pythons from Australasia; emerald tree boas are boas from South America. Similar green colour evolved separately.

### Why do juvenile green tree pythons change colour?

Young snakes are often yellow or red for camouflage, then turn green at maturity.

### Do green tree pythons bite?

They can deliver a painful defensive bite; wild individuals are often irritable when handled.

### Where do green tree pythons live?

Rainforest canopies of New Guinea, nearby islands, and Australia's Cape York.

### How do green tree pythons hunt?

They ambush from branches at night, using heat pits to detect warm-blooded prey.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/green-tree-python/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.