These animals do not present parental care traits. Easy Classification Guide to North American Snakes. The brown tree snake population on the island has reached peak densities of greater than 100 snakes per hectare. In Guatemala and Mexico for example, female snake lay their eggs between June and July. 1987. Range lifespan Status: captivity 7.0 (high) years; Average lifespan … A distinguishing characteristic of the young is a light grayish-white colored ring found around the neck. The page author/ document provider does not accept any liability to any person or body for the information (or the use of such information) which is provided in this resource. When these snakes feel threatened they flatten their bodies to appear larger and place their bodies in an aggressive posture. This snake is known for being an invasive species, responsible for killing the bird population on Guam. or tan, but some individuals sport an attractive reddish or yellow hue. It also eats birds and shrews at Guam. Because Brown Snakes hunt mostly underground and at night, they probably use almost exclusively their sense of smell to find prey. All images © 2015 Krystal Huff unless otherwise stated. Most snakes found around the world are known to have very poor vision and rely mostly on their smell and vibrations to detect signs of prey and predators. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. These snakes are oviparous or egg-laying animals that have little or no embryonic development within the mother. At this age they are sometimes confused with Ring-necked Snakes. bites from larger adults can cause highly allergic reactions in some people. Significance. They are sometimes seen in October to November and during late March or April, when they are moving to or from hibernation spots. Snakes caused the extirpation of most of the native forest vertebrate species; thousands of power outages affecting private, commercial, and military activities; widespread loss of domestic birds and pets; and considerable emotional trauma to residents and visitors alike when snakes invaded human habitats with the potential for envenomation of small children. Males and females generally look the same, but males tend to have longer tails and females are slightly larger. Ditmars, R. 1936. Therefore, the snake's mouth must be opened as wide as possible to insert and expose its fangs. Little is known of Brown Snake lifespans in the wild, but a captive individual lived to be 7 years old. Capable of eating up to 70 percent of their body mass per day, they have been known to consume many different types of small vertebrates as well as carrion.

Overall, the vertebrate fauna and native flora of Guam have suffered tremendously because of the introduction of the brown tree snake. For a confirmed ID or to find a local snake cather to remove a snake from your property please visit Townsville Snake Catchers on Facebook. Brown Snakes are widely distributed. After extensive research, the body condition in the free-living snakes was found to be significantly different from the body condition of native and captive snakes. [2], Due to the amount of prey and lack of predators in habitats such as Guam, they have been known to grow to larger sizes than their normal 1 to 2 meters in length. This snake is infamous for being an invasive species responsible for extirpating the majority of the native bird population in Guam. These snakes prefer much cooler and moist areas such as wet forests and rainforests. [1] The longest recorded length of this species is one found on Guam measuring 3 m (9.8 ft).

The Guam National Wildlife Refuge is attempting to prevent the extinction of additional bird species endangered by the snake. The head is distinct from the narrow neck. This trait is what give the blunthead tree snake such an advantage over other snakes.
Variations in coloration occur in the snake's native range, ranging from a lightly patterned brown to yellowish/green or even beige with red, saddle-shaped blotches. They have stout bodies with large eyes and heavily keeled scales(with raised ridges along their length). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. [17] The brown tree snake population on Guam has exceeded the carrying capacity of the island. Some snakes mate year round while some snakes’ mating season may be synced with the wet and rainy seasons of their environment. Sometimes they eat fish and small mammals. Because the female blunthead tree snakes tend to have larger heads, they are capable of preying on larger reptiles and amphibians. [1], The reproductive characteristics of the brown tree snake have not been widely studied.

It hides during the day in the crowns of palm trees, hollow logs, rock crevices, caves, and even the dark corners of thatched houses near the roof. Disclaimer: The contents of this web page/document are intended and provided for information purposes only. The eggs are laid anywhere from November to January and start to hatch around March throughout August. [10] Based on the frequency of sightings of this snake, in relation to buildings, poultry, and caged birds, the snake is considered to be common in human-disturbed habitats. The brown tree snake preys upon birds, lizards, bats, and rats and other small rodents in its native range. It inhabits a wide range of habitats but is particularly prevalent in open grasslands, pastures and woodland. The largest I recall handling measured 14.5 inches. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DRL-0628151.Copyright © 2002-2020, The Regents of the University of Michigan.

In addition to subduing its victim with its venom, the brown tree snake often wraps its body around the prey, like a constrictor, to immobilize the prey while chewing and consuming the animal. Blunthead tree snakes are distributed in Mexico, most of Central America, and parts of South America south to northernmost Argentina. [3] Maximum length is about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).[2]. [5], Blunthead tree snakes are carnivores that forage primarily at night. [1] To minimize this threat, trained dogs are used to search, locate, and remove brown tree snakes before outbound military and commercial cargo and transportation vessels leave the island.
Snakes are a natural part of living in the tropics and it's not uncommon to see them in our urban environments. [7] Hawaii is especially at heavy risk from the snake, as direct military flights between Guam and Hawaii are allowed and brown tree snakes are regularly intercepted at landing areas.