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Types of Snakes in a Rain Forest

Rain forests account for only 6 percent of the Earth's ecosystems, yet they contain more than half of the total species found on the planet. These tall, dense jungles receive a staggering amount of rain every year. Among the many species found in rain forests, a good number of them are snakes. Both venomous and nonvenomous snakes can be found in rain forests throughout the world.

Green Anaconda
- The largest snake in the world, the green anaconda can grow up to more than 29 feet in length. It can also reach more than 12 inches in circumference and weigh more than 550 pounds. It is a member of the boa family and is native to South America, where it is found in swamps, marshes and streams in the Amazon rain forest and the Orinoco basin. It feeds by constricting its body around its prey until the prey suffocates. The green anaconda feeds on large mammals such as wild pigs and deer, as well as birds, turtles and fish.
Honduran Milksnake
- The Honduran milksnake is a nonvenomous species that grows to be between 4 and 6 feet long. Its body is red with black stripes. It is native to Central American rain forests in Honduras, Nicaragua and parts of Costa Rica. It lives a solitary life that lasts up to 15 years in the wild and is often found resting among piles of leaves or under objects that are lying in direct sunlight. The Honduran milksnake is nocturnal in summer and diurnal in the spring and fall. It hibernates during the winter.
West African Green Mamba
- The West African green mamba is an aggressive snake that varies in color. Most specimens are green, though some are closer to yellow or even light blue. They grow to be 5 to 7 feet long, and have a diet that consists of small birds and mammals. They are diurnal snakes that live in trees in West African rain forests. Isolated individual green mambas have also been reported further east in Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.
Gaboon Viper
- The gaboon viper is native to the tropical rain forests in Central Africa. It grows to be between 4 and 7 feet long, and it feeds on everything from frogs and lizards to small rodents. The gaboon viper is a venomous species with a mottled coloration that allows it to blend in among leaves on the rain forest floor. Their natural camouflage allows them both to elude potential predators and attack unsuspecting prey. The strike hard and fast, with remarkable speed. Their fangs, which are retractable, are also the longest of any venomous snake.

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