The Green Vine Snake, Oxybelis fulgidus, is a long, slender arboreal Colubrid

Colubrid

A colubrid is a member of the snake family Colubridae. This broad classification of snakes includes about two-thirds of all snake species on earth. The earliest species of the snake family date back to the Oligocene epoch. With 304 genera and 1,938 species, Colubridae is the largest snake family...

 snake that inhabits Central America

Central America

Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...

 and northern South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

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Description

This snake is slender, about 2 cm thick, and may have a length of about 1.5 to 2 meters. The tail is long and very delicate, but mostly used to hold on while reaching for prey. The head is aerodynamically-shaped and very pointy, the mouth is very big and extends almost through the whole head. The tongue is long and green, when in use it is kept outside and moved up and down.

Catching Prey

The green vine snake stays high on trees and looks down to the ground. When a mouse, lizard or nest is found the snake follows the prey a short distance and smells it carefully. If the snake is content with it, it bites into the head and lifts the prey 20–40 cm from the ground. With this the snakes prevents the prey from using its physical strength. The vine snake has two larger teeth at the back of its mouth; these teeth permit the toxic saliva to penetrate the wounds and to immobilize the prey. Then it is rapidly swallowed. Once the prey is completely in the snakes body, the vine snake searches for a resting place, usually in the highest point of a tree.

Behavior in Captivity

Vine snakes must be kept in large terrariums with a height of at least 2 meters and a surface of 6-16 square meters. The behavior towards humans is neutral and the snake usually goes to the other end of the terrarium. Some adapt very well and even come nearer. These are almost entirely lizard eaters. It is possible to train them to eat mice but difficult.