''Oxybelis fulgidus'', commonly known as the green vine snake or the flatbread snake (not to be confused with green-colored species in the genus '' Ahaetulla'', which are also referred as "green vine snake"), is a species of long, slender, arboreal colubrid snake, which is endemic to Central America and northern South America.

Common names

Common names used in South America for this species include ''bejuca lora, bejuquilla verde, cobra-cipó, '' and ''cobra-bicuda''.

Geographic range

It is found in Belize,

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

, Brazil,

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

, Ecuador,

El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south b ...

, French Guiana,

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...

Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. The republic of Honduras is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Oce ...

, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru,

Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...

, and Venezuela.The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Description

This snake is very slender, roughly thick, and may attain a total length of about . 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 large and extends almost the whole length of the head. The tongue is long and green; when in use it is kept outside the mouth and moved up and down. this behavior is reflected in other species of vine snake and it is believed that they are using their tongues as sights the way a cat uses its whiskers, as they move very quickly through branches and brush. It is bright green dorsally, and yellowish green ventrally and on the upper lip. There is a narrow yellowish-white stripe along each side of the belly and tail. Snout very prominent, about three times as long as the diameter of the eye. No loreal, prefrontal contacting 2 or 3 upper labials. 9-10 upper labials, 4th, 5th, and 6th (or 5th, 6th, and 7th) entering the eye. Temporals very large, 1 + 2. Dorsal scales weakly keeled, arranged in 17 rows at midbody. Ventrals 198-217; anal plate divided; subcaudals 139-165, also divided.

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 from the ground. With this the snake prevents the prey from using its physical strength. The vine snake has two larger upper 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 snake's body, the vine snake searches for a resting place, usually in the highest point of a tree. The venom of ''Oxybelis fulgidus'' is fast acting on small animals, but has little or no effect on humans. Envenomation of human beings is rare as the rear fangs require the snake to grab and chew to get its venom in, something most people will not stand for. In the rare instance of human envenomation, slight tingling to temporary numbness at the site of the bite is reported. As with all venomous creatures, serious allergic reactions are possible so caution should still be taken when handling these snakes.

Behavior in captivity

Vine snakes must be kept in large terrariums with a height of at least and a surface of . 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 closer. Unlike their Asian look-alikes, these snakes will readily take mice and some are even large enough to eat rats. This fact makes them a prized choice among reptile collectors. Captive life spans are estimated at 9–15 years.

Images

Image:Oxybelis-fulgidus-3.jpg, ''Oxybelis fulgidus'' in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica Image:Oxybelis-fulgidus-1.jpg, ''Oxybelis fulgidus'' in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica Image:Oxybelis fulgidus 5.jpg, ''Oxybelis fulgidus'' in Cahuita, Costa Rica Image:CulebraChocoya1.JPG, Close-up of head of Oxybelis fulgidus (Culebra Chocoya in Nicaragua) in El Crucero, Managua, Nicaragua. Image:CulebraChocoya2.JPG, Oxibelis fulgidus on a tropical almond (Terminalia catappa?) branch, in El Crucero, Managua, Nicaragua. Image:Oxybelis fulgidus 4.jpg, Close-up of head of ''Oxybelis fulgidus''

References

External links

Honduras Silvestre - Biodiversity Database for Honduras
* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q619964 Colubrids Snakes of Central America Snakes of South America Reptiles of Belize Reptiles of Bolivia Reptiles of Brazil Reptiles of Colombia Reptiles of Costa Rica Reptiles of Ecuador Reptiles of El Salvador Reptiles of French Guiana Reptiles of Guatemala Reptiles of Guyana Reptiles of Honduras Reptiles of Mexico Reptiles of Nicaragua Reptiles of Panama Reptiles of Peru Reptiles of Suriname Reptiles of Venezuela Fauna of the Amazon Reptiles described in 1803