| 1 | Green tree python |
Green tree pythons inhabit dense forests of Queensland and Papua New Guinea, almost never straying to the grasslands next door. Whether it’s a specific survival strategy or they’re just showing off, we’re not sure, but green tree pythons reach extreme heights in the canopies. A study from Iron Range National Park in Queensland found that young green tree pythons stayed within 10 metres above ground, but adults regularly ascended to 25 metres or more, one of the most towering records of any snake.
Green tree pythons prey on mammals and occasionally birds, which they ambush from a comfortable nest of coils. They must choose the most optimally angled branch for making sudden lunges, otherwise their prey might dodge and escape. If this is 20 metres above the rainforest floor, then so be it.
Green tree pythons ascend so high simply because they can. They have excellent climbing abilities in spite of their bulky weight, and there’s no limits on where they can place themselves in ambush. If there’s food shortages lower down, then green tree pythons will be dragged higher by default. That’s not all, as if a male scents a female on the highest branches, he could be lured all the way from 0 metres to 20. Like all snakes, they have an extraordinary sense of smell, although they don’t sniff, instead flecking their tongue to detect scent particles. This could be blown on the breeze or lingering on surfaces like a leaf.
| 2 | Amazon tree boa |
A forest might be a forest, but there’s multiple sublevels within them. You have the earthy soil chambers where ant-eating blind snakes live. You have the forest floor, containing bushmasters and tiptoeing human explorers. Then you have the towering canopies, where beams of sunlight shine through and Amazon tree boas rest peacefully on branches, oblivious to the drama below.
Amazon tree boas are non-venomous, and rely on an aggressive temperament for their survival. Their body isn’t too twig-like, but they navigate branches with ease, and have been recorded at 25 metres in the crowns of trees. Amazon tree boas vary wildly in colour, from grey to brown to neon orange. They range from Brazil to Peru, and appear in isolated tree clumps near farms as well as fully fledged forests.
The Amazon tree boa has access to areas a human being couldn’t dream of, with excellent climbing skills and no fear of heights. If this snake wants to stay out of sight, then it will, unless people are willing to climb 20 metres high in a swarming rainforest canopy. You could always send a drone up, but this would probably be swiped down by a monkey at the last second.
| 3 | Brown tree snake |
Many forest snakes have a safety switch built into their brains. They know that if they climb too far then a fall would be correspondingly more catastrophic, ending their lives. But the brown tree snake just keeps on climbing. This is a native Australian species which lives in forests of Queensland. They’re also an invasive species on Guam, the US-controlled Pacific island, where they’ve wreaked havoc on the native birds (their main prey).
According to a 2022 study, brown tree snakes prefer lower branches, but regularly ascend to 10-15 metres, and with one reaching 18 metres. On average, males reached higher perches than females. These discoveries were purely inadvertent, by scientists determined to map out every Boiga irregularis characteristic in their attempts to destroy them (which have all failed). It’s likely that brown tree snakes reach 20 metres when not being observed.
The brown tree snake is mildly venomous, though is no threat to humans. They’re recognisable by bulging eyes and a fully brown body, measuring 100cm. This snake also inhabits forest edges and more isolated tree clumps, so it gets a superior view to most climbers. Brown tree snakes can climb 20 metres high, and not be blocked by a thick jungle canopy. They can see a grassy plain, the sunset, or most importantly, a team of US government exterminators heading their way.
| 4 | South American sipo |
One threat to snakes in the Amazon rainforest is the short-faced caiman, a jungle crocodilian which wallows in humid waterways. There’s no escape from this reptile’s jaws, which are like an iron clamp. It’s confirmed to prey on emerald tree boas among others, but the South American sipo has a solution: stay 15 metres above ground.
This is a slow, steadily climbing snake which has no fear about living in high, unstable canopies. They have an unpredictable temperament, and subdue their prey by grabbing them with a couple of loose coils. In a 2021 study featuring 5 family members, also including brown sipos and Brazilian sipos, south American sipos (Chironius foveatus) reached the highest branch perches of all, at 16 metres.
This species mainly preys on Hylid tree frogs. They have a thin body, perfect for crossing between overlapping tree branches. Despite reaching 15 metres, the view isn’t as incredible as it could be, as rainforests are so thick. They have a great view of treefrogs hopping around, but seeing humans wandering below is very difficult, just as it is for humans to see them.
| 5 | Stephen’s banded snake |
This 120cm, dangerously venomous snake achieves some of the highest branch heights in Australia. They’re native to eastern Australia and live in remnant forest patches with minimal human influence. Stephen’s banded snakes have been recorded at heights of 25 metres above ground, and 20 metres is perfectly common. Rather than open areas, they like to be shielded by foliage like overlapping leaves, to avoid hungry predators swooping in.
This species stops feeding for 5 whole months in winter, during which they stash themselves in tree hollows. Their body temperature fluctuates wildly from 11-37C.
The fact that snakes already have such bad eyesight helps them in this case; if they looked down they’d probably have a panic attack. Equally, it’s a good thing they’re not too bright (with a couple of exceptions), as a sudden realisation that they’re 20 metres high would probably cause them to plummet to the floor. It’s best for everyone that Stephen’s banded snakes have no comprehension of how high they are.
| 6 | Blanding’s catsnake |
This African snake regularly reaches 15 metres above ground, and rests there for hours with no worries. It rests so high that the forest floor ceases to exist, and its world consists purely of branches and beams of sunlight shining through.
Blanding’s catsnake is mildly venomous, and moves by night. With less cones and more rods in their retina, they can navigate canopies 20 metres high in complete darkness. Blanding’s catsnakes also hunt while in the air, searching for birds and Angolan free-tailed bats. They also drop to the ground, but are easily most at home in branches, with a relatively thin body and long tail.
Blanding’s catsnakes live in over a dozen countries, including Nigeria and Guinea, mainly in forests but also parks. A forest with this species might seem completely empty of snakes, a peaceful place. You might think the rumours were all exaggerated and walk on while whistling. But in reality, the snakes are 10 metres above your head, looking as eerie as ever. Fortunately, Blanding’s catsnakes are alert and nimble, and the odds of one dropping onto your head are minimal (but not quite zero).
| 7 | March’s palm pitviper |
If you ever fell face first into a Honduran rainforest from a helicopter, this is the first snake you’d meet. March’s palm pitvipers (Bothriechis marchi) occupy branch perches of 1-2 metres, but also 25 metres if the urge strikes. They can remain at these towering heights for many hours and days.
Bothriechis marchi doesn’t climb particularly quickly, moving up trunks carefully and concentrating while they navigate the ridge of a branch. But they just keep going and going, until suddenly they’re 18.68 metres high. A bushmaster can be lurking below in leaves, while March’s palm pitviper is above in the canopies, mere metres away, yet in a completely different world. Bothriechis marchi are vulnerable to birds, yet are a vicious opponent, snapping back and injecting a dose of cytotoxic venom. This is a central American species which inhabits two countries: eastern Guatemala and western Honduras. They never appear in towns and cities, but might be encountered by villagers lost in their local forest.
A 2022 study from Casuco National Park, Honduras, found that they regularly break through 20 metres, and climb far higher as adults than juveniles. Bothriechis marchii is a cousin of the far more common eyelash viper. They average at just 80cm. Check out this video to see one climbing.
| 8 | Bothrops bilineatus |
By definition, measuring a snake’s branch height can be difficult if it’s just a casual survey, because they’re so far above your head. In 2021, scientists embarked on a dedicated expedition to analyse Bothrops bilineatus’ lifestyle. This species occurs in rainforests all over the Amazon and is the most tree-faring of the Bothrops family, sticking to a branch and injecting venom into passing frogs.
The scientists recorded several snakes resting above 10 metres, and one climbed to 20 metres above the mulchy rainforest floor. A separate study in 2019 saw a Bothrops bilineatus rest at 9.4 metres for 3 days straight.
Bothrops bilineatus can move vertically as much as they wish, with no barriers. This is a strict forest species which is never found in open grassland. They prefer the dense interiors of rainforests, where they can eat red snouted treefrogs and Marmorea frogs to their heart’s content. Being so green, Bothrops bilineatus is hard to spot in any case, but being 10 metres above your head makes it even harder. Through Bothrops bilineatus is fairly hefty, it’s significantly thinner than its Amazon neighbours like the jararacussu.
| 9 | Rough green snake |
The cousin of the smooth green snake. The rough version is literally rougher to touch, and prefers southeastern states like Georgia, Louisiana, and even reaching northern Mexico.
Rough green snakes (Opheodrys aestivus) are far from tree-dwellers, and measure 100cm. With their head constantly at ground level, a tree is probably as foreboding to them as the Empire state building. Yet rough green snakes have been observed by scientists clinging to branches 10 metres high, in a survey from White County Arizona, and another handful were over 8 metres. Rough green snakes possess the ability to drop onto your head, although they’d probably rather climb down slowly.
Rough green snakes aren’t found in dense forests or rocky plains. They prefer inbetween – moist meadows and woodlands. They’re usually found on the ground, blending into grass with their immense camouflage. The same survey also revealed the rough green snake’s diet: caterpillars were most common, making up 40.6% of total food items. This was followed by spiders (24.6%), grasshoppers/crickets (11.3%) and dragonflies/damselflies (9.0%).
| 10 | Paradise flying snake |
The paradise flying snake is unable to drive a car, but has several advantages over humans: 1) it can fly, and 2) it can climb 15 metres high. This species measures 90cm and lives in southern Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. It’s a superior flier to the more famous golden flying snake, with the ability to glide 100 metres at once.
This species preys primarily on lizards and geckos. With the paradise flying snake, climbing to towering heights is a necessity, as it allows them to glide further at unsuspecting prey. Paradise flying snakes have a mild venom and become airborne by morphing their body shape to create an air pocket underneath. They have a thin body, allowing them to reach 20 metres high without snapping delicate branches.
Paradise tree snakes can drop down to the ground, but they need trees to survive. What we don’t know is whether they can achieve the real dream: to reach the very top of the rainforest. 20 metres is already an achievement – could this snake climb as high as you possibly can? Not to hang out in the uppermost canopies, but to breach the top, poke their head out, and witness a neverending sea of green for miles around. If any snake can, it’s the paradise flying snake.