Emerald Tree Boa

Corallus caninus

A bright green Amazon tree snake with white zigzags that coils over branches and senses the heat of its prey.

Checking teacher reviews…

Teacher? Sign in to review this page →Report a mistake

About the Emerald Tree Boa

Emerald tree boas live almost only in trees in lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. Adults are bright green with a white zigzag or diamond pattern and a cream belly. Most are 4 to 6 feet long, though some reach 10 feet. Babies are born reddish or orange and turn green between six months and a year old. They hold onto branches with a prehensile tail.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Corallus caninus^[1]
Size: Usually 4 to 6 feet long; up to 10 feet.^[1]
Diet: Carnivore. Catches prey and constricts it.^[1]
Habitat: Lowland tropical rainforest, almost always in trees.^[1]
Where it lives: The Amazon basin of northern South America.^[1]
Babies: 3 to 8 live young after about seven months.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2014).^[2]

Fun facts

Baby emerald tree boas are red or orange.^[1]
Its scientific name means "dog-like."^[1]
It senses the body heat of prey.^[1]

Vocabulary

constrictor: A snake that kills prey by wrapping around it and squeezing.
prehensile: Able to grab or wrap around things, like a tail that holds onto branches.
infrared: Heat energy that can't be seen but can be sensed.
arboreal: Living mostly in trees.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · ReptilesSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Emerald tree boa.” https://www.sfzoo.org/emerald-tree-boa/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Corallus caninus (Emerald Tree Boa).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/203208/2762180 (accessed 2026-10-02)