Emerald Tree Boa, PeruThe emerald tree boa is a non-venomous snake native to the rainforests of South America, especially the Amazon Basin. With vivid green scales marked by jagged white stripes, it blends perfectly into the canopy where it spends most of its life coiled on branches. Despite its relaxed appearance, it’s an ambush predator, striking with lightning speed to snatch birds, lizards, and small mammals. Unlike many snakes, the emerald tree boa gives birth to live young—miniature versions of itself that start out orange or red before turning green as they mature. This boa was photographed in the upper Amazon basin of Peru. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/9 at 1/80th of a second, Godox flash.