Emerald Tree boa!

This is the Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus), one that can blend very well with its surroundings. 

On March 21, 2016, exactly 2 weeks ago, we spotted this beauty, well camouflaged between the green foliage. The Emerald Tree Boa is an arboreal boa, meaning that it most definitely lives in trees and most likely won't be spotted on the ground.

Their habitat is near flooded areas, think of close to the river banks on low branches and also in primary and secondary forest.

​They can reach a length between 140 - 200 cm (!!)

The Emerald Tree Boa is a nocturnal hunter that likes to prey upon (sleeping) birds, lizards and small mammals in the tree. Somehow this Tree Boa noticed our presence and was observing us just as we did with him. 

They are very difficult to spot between the green foliage as they can blend really well with their surroundings. 

In Suriname they are also known as Groene Hondskopboa, Groene Boomboa, Parrot Snake and Akada.

The Emerald Tree Boa is also a powerful constrictor. A sneaky predator, as it likes to move very slowly from branch to branch to ambush its prey during the night. 

I took a couple of steps back to take this picture. Very difficult to spot immediately, right? After a couple of minutes of looking and taking pictures, this beauty decided that it was time to go and leave it alone. How? By going back to sleep and not paying attention to us anymore. A long night awaits!

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