The kids and I took a trip to the local exotic animal store this weekend and were thrilled to find a vine snake on display. I have never encountered one in the flesh and apparently this example sold within a day of arrival. Good luck to the new owner - they are going to need it! This species is a notoriously difficult captive and normally refuses to eat anything but lizards. That is quite a problem in the UK where both native species are protected and it is illegal to sell live animals as food items.
The vine snake is venomous and rear fanged. In other words delivery of its toxic payload comes via a less efficient chewing action. They have peculiar horizontal pupils, a feature shared only with twig snakes.
The children were captivated by its stunning colour and design, which facilitates excellent camouflage amongst the greenery.
This species takes me back to my childhood where my brother and I would watch a National Geographic video on Reptiles and Amphibians. There was a scene where a vine snake stalked a flying lizard in the tree tops. At the crucial moment our intrepid victim flings itself from a branch and, spreading its 'wings' manages to glide towards safety. This video was dated even then and now looks like footage unearthed alongside cretaceous fossils! It was quite amusing reading reviews from Amazon, where seemingly the original VHS is still available. It was re-released in 1997 and one chap vented his fury at the original release date (1968) not being clear.
Antiquated it was, but still one of the many essential cogs on our pathway to a lifelong fascination with the natural world. I love the way chance encounters evoke distant memories and remind me of the same childhood fascination that I now see blossoming in my own children.
This species takes me back to my childhood where my brother and I would watch a National Geographic video on Reptiles and Amphibians. There was a scene where a vine snake stalked a flying lizard in the tree tops. At the crucial moment our intrepid victim flings itself from a branch and, spreading its 'wings' manages to glide towards safety. This video was dated even then and now looks like footage unearthed alongside cretaceous fossils! It was quite amusing reading reviews from Amazon, where seemingly the original VHS is still available. It was re-released in 1997 and one chap vented his fury at the original release date (1968) not being clear.
Antiquated it was, but still one of the many essential cogs on our pathway to a lifelong fascination with the natural world. I love the way chance encounters evoke distant memories and remind me of the same childhood fascination that I now see blossoming in my own children.
