Oxybelis fulgidus

[carpy]

i doubt this would be useful to anyone but had this published in a few places, so why not chuck it on here

Oxybelis fulgidus – “Green Vine Snake”, “Falsa Lora”

Description Oxybelis fulgidus is a medium sized opisthoglyphous colubrid species found in the new world. This snake is very distinctive, due in part to its elongated head and extremely pointed snout which projects beyond the end of the mouth opening. There are very few other species currently available on the market with similar features. O. fulgidus have been known to reach a snout to vent length of over 1,500mm with the potential to reach a total size in excess of 2,000mm. The tail of this species encompasses in the region of 35% of the total length of the specimen.
This species exhibits a striking green colour phase. Dorsal surfaces are bright intense green. Venter is a yellow/green colouration. A striking white line runs the length of the snake, from the neck along both sides on the ventrolateral edge. Head green with a darker green eye stripe which runs from the snout to the neck. This darker shade contains a thin brown stripe and below that the same pale yellow green colouration to be found on the ventral surfaces. Iris is yellow with black mottling. Pupil is circular. Mouth lining is flesh coloured. Tongue is green, and is held erect and rigid when hunting/feeding.

Similar sp. Ahaetulla prasina is frequently mistaken for this species. A. prasina is most easily distinguishable by the fact that it has a keyhole shaped pupil, in contrast with the rounded pupil of O. fulgidus. A. prasina also shows a slightly different dorsal surface colouration, in that the vivid green is sometimes interspersed with white and black flecking. A prasina lacks the white ventrolateral stripe. Superficially these snakes are very similar and as a result the only reliable way to distinguish the species in the author’s opinion without going into scale counts is to look at the pupil. Of course it should be noted that A. prasina occurs in the Asia and therefore these species will only be misidentified in a reptile expo situation or similar. Oxybelis fulgidus are significantly scarcer in captivity, and therefore unscrupulous dealers may attempt to pass off A. prasina as the aforementioned species. Caution is therefore advised when attempting to purchase this species.
Philodryas spp. Also superficially resemble O. fulgidus. However of this genus only P. baroni has an elongate pointed snout. This species however does not have the same intense green to be found with O. fulgidus and the dorsal surface often also has a darker coloured stripe running along it. The ventral colouration of this species is a pale cream colour, unlike the brighter yellow green exhibited by O. fulgidus. P. baroni has an upturned snout not dissimilar to Gonyosoma oxycephala, another similar species, which is not a characteristic shared with O. fulgidus.
N.B the Similar species that have been described are not exclusive, and there are others. These are the ones which are deemed to be the species most common in captivity. Other species such as other Oxybelis are also similar but due to their rarity in captivity these have been omitted.
Habitat In the wild this species occurs in a variety of habitats over a large distribution area. These include Evergreen broadleaf forest, semi-evergreen seasonal forest, highland pine savanna formations, fruit orchards, lowland dry forest, premontane moist forest, etc. This species is most commonly found in relatively undisturbed areas of primary rainforest.

Distribution Southern Mexico to Argentina

Characteristics Diurnal arboreal colubrid. Spends the majority of its time in vegetation either foraging or basking in whatever sunlight may be available. Some literature states that this species is an ambush hunter however in the author’s experience this species is an active forager. This mistaken belief may be due to this species’ instinct when threatened which is initially to freeze. This may have led to the mistaken idea that this behaviour is in conjunction with feeding. Once the snake feels its camouflage is no longer offering protection it will usually flee.
This species, being an agile arboreal colubrid, is extremely fast and as a result will very swiftly flee. If however the animal is captured it will not hesitate to bite. Indeed this species has a very long strike range and is inclined to bite and chew.
O fulgidus, being opisthoglyphous, has a Duvernoys gland and rear fangs allowing it to envenomate. It possesses a relatively toxic venom which is thought to be uncharacteristically strong for a colubrid. This combined with its wide gape means this species is able to envenomate quickly and with the minimum of chewing which is usually required in order for other opisthoglyphous species to successfully envenomate. Bites often result in localised pain, swelling and other potentially more serious symptoms.

Housing O. fulgidus requires specialist housing in a captive environment. Its large size combined with arboreal tendencies result in the need to keep this species in a large enclosure. A minimum size would be 1200 x 600 x 600 although it should be noted that a larger enclosure would be more suitable. The author currently keeps 1.1 of this species in a 1800 x 1200 x 1200 enclosure.
The arboreal nature of this species should be catered for in the vivarium. The vivarium should therefore be furnished with all manner of sticks, logs, etc. Bird nesting boxes are often a useful hide which offers security. Bamboo canes can be used, along with other branches or similar.
If a naturalistic setup is preferred live plants can also be used. The author uses ferns, orchids, grasses and bromeliads (Ficus trees can also be used to great effect but do not come from the same distribution area so therefore have not been included in the aforementioned enclosure) along with naturalistic branches and other vivarium décor.
Conditions This species requires a relatively high temperature. A hot spot of around 32 – 34 Celsius (88 – 94F) is to be recommended, along with an ambient air temperature of around 28 - 29 Celsius (82 – 84F). The cold end of the enclosure should be maintained at 26 Celsius (78F) but during the day it should not really be allowed to fall further than this. A night time drop can be beneficial as it imitates the natural occurrence. The ambient temperature should be maintained at or above 25 Celsius, and there should be no hot spot.
As this species presides mainly in the Rainforests of the new world humidity is of paramount importance. It should ideally be maintained at or above 70% with rises when ecdysis occurs or is due to occur.
Light can be supplied, and in the authors case 2 Lucky Reptile Bright Sun Jungle 70W bulbs are used on one side of the enclosure. This offers optimum light / UV levels for this species and is therefore recommended.

Breeding Females produce up to 10 white oval eggs. One report (Connors, 1989) describes a female which was copulated in the wild laying 10 eggs in May. These hatched in 105 / 106 days and produced hatchlings of 335 – 360 mm in total length.

Feeding Diet in the wild includes small birds, frogs (especially tree frogs of the family Hylidae), small birds and hatchlings, arboreal lizards and the occasional mammal. In captivity this species can be a difficult feeder but with time and patience can be converted onto defrost rodents. If difficulties occur scenting of the rodent with frogs or lizards can evoke a feeding reaction. Live rodents are usually taken without a second thought but with particularly difficult specimens a feeding reaction will almost always result from a live anole or tree frog. Likewise small gecko’s can be used. However as mentioned with time most will convert onto defrost rodents.

Sources Peter J Stafford
John R Meyer
Twan leenders
Jay M Savage

[carpy]

didnt think many would find this useful!

[kenneally1]

I did! It is safely tucked away now , as the vine snake is most definately on the wanted list!

[April Taylor]

I did too, just researching them now!