As rainforests are so rich in biodiversity with the presence of favourable conditions such as warmth and water, it is no surprise that snakes in general are found in their greatest numbers in the tropical areas of the Earth. (1)
We’ve even encountered a mention of the fact that “…most large amphibians and reptiles are today exclusively tropical in distribution”. (2)
As a significant part of the wildlife of tropical forests around the world, snakes have an impact on other animals both as predators and prey. (3)
Out of around 2,700 species of snakes in the world, only 1/5 th are venomous; the rest are not. (4)
Without trying to put an exact figure on it, we would assume that rainforests house a similar proportion of venomous and non-venomous snakes.
Learn more about some fascinating Snake Facts here.
Snakes use most types of habitats in a rainforest – most of them live on and under the ground but some of them also inhabit trees and water sources. (5)
Rainforest snakes are carnivores. They employ several ways of attacking other animals. Non-venomous snakes can either pin their prey to the ground or “constrict” them which means that they wrap their own bodies around them in a coil and squeeze them until the victim dies. Venomous snakes normally inject venom into their prey. (6)
Boas (such as anacondas, boa constrictors and pythons) are probably some of the most popular rainforest snakes.
Amazon Snakes
The Amazon forest – the largest tropical rainforest of the world – is home to a great variety of snakes.
As some authors mention: “… snakes appear to be the single most diverse reptile group in the Amazon Basin, where more than 175 snake species have been described”.
The floodplains house a large number of all the reptile species found in the Amazon Basin, and though many species of snakes inhabiting the Amazonian floodplains are aquatic the majority of them are most likely arboreal. Many Amazonian snakes, such as boas, pit vipers and some colubrids, move to live in the forest’s trees during floods.
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| GREEN SNAKE |
We’ve even encountered a mention of the fact that “…most large amphibians and reptiles are today exclusively tropical in distribution”. (2)
As a significant part of the wildlife of tropical forests around the world, snakes have an impact on other animals both as predators and prey. (3)
Out of around 2,700 species of snakes in the world, only 1/5 th are venomous; the rest are not. (4)
Without trying to put an exact figure on it, we would assume that rainforests house a similar proportion of venomous and non-venomous snakes.
Learn more about some fascinating Snake Facts here.
Snakes use most types of habitats in a rainforest – most of them live on and under the ground but some of them also inhabit trees and water sources. (5)
Rainforest snakes are carnivores. They employ several ways of attacking other animals. Non-venomous snakes can either pin their prey to the ground or “constrict” them which means that they wrap their own bodies around them in a coil and squeeze them until the victim dies. Venomous snakes normally inject venom into their prey. (6)
Boas (such as anacondas, boa constrictors and pythons) are probably some of the most popular rainforest snakes.
Amazon Snakes
The Amazon forest – the largest tropical rainforest of the world – is home to a great variety of snakes.
As some authors mention: “… snakes appear to be the single most diverse reptile group in the Amazon Basin, where more than 175 snake species have been described”.
The floodplains house a large number of all the reptile species found in the Amazon Basin, and though many species of snakes inhabiting the Amazonian floodplains are aquatic the majority of them are most likely arboreal. Many Amazonian snakes, such as boas, pit vipers and some colubrids, move to live in the forest’s trees during floods.
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