Vine snake is the name of a number of snakes with slender bodies and long, narrow heads. They spend most of their time in trees. Vine snakes are camouflaged to blend into their surroundings. Their bodies may show patterns of green, yellow, orange, gray, brown, blue, black, or white. Many different species (kinds) of snakes are considered vine snakes. They live in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Vine snakes are venomous (poisonous). The bite of some species can be dangerous to human beings. The snakes deliver the venom through enlarged fangs on the back of the upper jaw.
Vine snakes have well-developed eyesight. They have long, narrow snouts with a groove between the eye and snout tip. This arrangement enables a vine snake to watch an object with both eyes at the same time. This ability is called binocular vision. It gives vine snakes good depth perception. As a result, they can hunt active prey.
Vine snakes may eat birds, fish, frogs, insects, lizards, rodents, and snakes. They lie in wait for their prey, hiding in vegetation. When stalking prey, vine snakes sway their heads from side to side and stick out their tongues. Their tongues detect the prey’s scent. The snakes strike and seize their prey, typically near the back of the head or neck. When threatened, a vine snake may stick out its tongue, shake its tail, gape its mouth, or bite.
