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Oxybelis fulgidus
Green Vine Snake


By Kathleen Grant

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Oxybelis
Species: Oxybelis fulgidus

Geographic Range

This species ranges widely from Mexico south to Bolivia (Lamar 1997).

Biogeographic Regions
nearctic (Native )

Habitat

This snake is most often found inhabiting rainforest or gallery forest, and because of its leafy coloration it is hard to detect (Lamar 1997).

Terrestrial Biomes
rainforest

Physical Description

This species has a pointy head with leafy green coloration on its dorsum and lighter green on its ventrum. Its iris is golden colored with a round pupil. It can reach in excess of 6 feet (Lamar 1997).

Reproduction

The only information available on the green vine snake's reproduction is that like most of its reptile relatives it lays eggs (Lamar 1997).

Behavior

Not much is known about the activities or behavior of this animal. One of the only things that is known is that as a means of warning or defense it will flatten its head to appear larger and more threatening. It is an arboreal snake that specializes in "sit and wait" predation (Seigel 1993).

Food Habits

Oxybelis fulgidus is very adept at capturing birds, and in some areas specializes in catching hummingbirds. It will sometimes position itself next to a flower and remain motionless, waiting for hummingbirds to approach (Lamar 1997).

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

No information available.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

No information available.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List [Link]
No special status

US Federal List [Link]
No special status

CITES [Link]
No special status

For More Information

Find Oxybelis fulgidus information at

Contributors

Kathleen Grant (author), Michigan State University, James Harding (editor), Michigan State University, , 205 Museum, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

References

Lamar, W. 1997. The World's Most Spectacular Reptiles and Amphibians. Tampa, Florida: World Publications.

Seigel, R., J. Collins. 1993. Snakes-Ecology and Behavior. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill,Inc..

To cite this page: Grant, K. 2000. "Oxybelis fulgidus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed February 12, 2012 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Oxybelis_fulgidus.html

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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