Head to head
Amazon Tree Boa vs Emerald Tree Boa
Amazon Tree Boa
VS Emerald Tree Boa
Both are nocturnal, heat-sensing tree boas of the Amazon rainforest canopy, but their colouring could hardly differ more.
| Amazon Tree Boa | Emerald Tree Boa | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Corallus hortulana | Corallus caninus |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Coloring | Highly variable between individuals | Reliably vivid green with white zigzag |
| Resting posture | Not specifically distinctive | Signature saddle-shaped coil |
| Body build | Slender | Heavier-bodied |
| Convergent lookalike | Not documented | Green tree python of New Guinea |
| Hunting method | Heat-sensing ambush from branches | Heat-sensing ambush from branches |
| Habitat | Amazon basin rainforest | Amazon basin rainforest canopy |
Amazon Tree Boa vs Emerald Tree Boa: common questions
Which tree boa has more consistent coloring?
The emerald tree boa does, reliably vivid green with a white zigzag pattern, while the Amazon tree boa varies enormously between individuals, from grey and brown to orange and red.
Which tree boa has a famous unrelated lookalike?
The emerald tree boa does, closely resembling the unrelated green tree python of New Guinea and Australia, a well-known case of convergent evolution; the Amazon tree boa has no such documented lookalike.
Do both tree boas hunt the same way?
Yes, both use heat-sensing pits along the jaw to detect warm-blooded prey and ambush birds and small mammals from branches in complete darkness.