- Post by Beth Moorhead
Back in February 2011, we had 18 baby Green Tree Pythons hatch. Since then, many of the babies have found homes at other zoos, but we kept one gorgeous little red one on display with its parents. In late January of this year, the python keeper noticed a slight color change. The brick red was slowly changing to orange! Since then it has been slowly changing from red to orange and now the orange is a bit green! This process should take a few weeks to complete and the little python will remain on display so everyone can enjoy this amazing process!
Hatchlings at 48 hours old. Notice the deep brick red coloration!
At just over 1 year old this python’s color is slowly changing to green – notice the orange and yellowish greens. Even their eyes will change color from red to yellow!
Green Tree Pythons (Morelia viridis) are native to New Guinea and northern Australia. They are found in many zoo collections due to their vibrant green and yellow colors and their tropical arboreal habitat. What many visitors may not be aware of are the amazing colors that newly hatched animals exhibit – either bright yellow or brick red! These colors help them hide in their preferred habitat, which is in low lying tree branches along the forest edge. When they grow to about 22 inches long their color changes to bright green – sometimes this color change can occur in only 8 days! The red and yellow colors are not related to sex or any other trait. Red hatchlings have been found on only a few islands including New Guinea. These pythons are nocturnal so in the zoo we often have to enjoy seeing them on display sound asleep and coiled on tree branches.
The father showing off his gorgeous colors which earn him the name Green Tree Python!
The Houston Zoo has had Green tree pythons in the collection since the late 1960′s. The father has been at the Houston Zoo since January, 1986, and has fathered other offspring in the past. The mother has been with us since October, 2008, when she was evacuated from Moody Gardens after Hurricane Ike.
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