S’N’A Advanced Series:
Green Tree Python
(Morelia viridis)
• First described in 1872 as Python viridis by German naturalist Hermann Schlegel perhaps most famously known for a particularly stunning venomous snake species after which was named in honour of him (Bothriechis schlegeli)
• changed to Chondropython azureus by Meyer in 1874
• changed to Chondropython pulcher by Sauvage in 1878
• changed to Chondropython azureus by W.Peters & Doria 1878
• changed to Chondropython viridis by Boulenger in 1893
• remained as Chondropython viridis according to Kinghorn in 1928
• remained as Chondropython viridis according to Mc Dowell in 1975
• changed to Morelia viridis by Underwood & Stimson in 1990
• changed to Chondropython viridis by Cogger in 1992
• changed to Morelia viridis by Kluge in 1993
• we will return to taxonomy of the species a little later………
(Explain how Northern range, North of Wemena Highlands is Morelia azureus and those South of that range at Morelia viridis)
• The snake was originally described by two holotype specimens collection from the Aru Islands.
• Naturally the Green Tree Python occurs in Indonesia including: Misool, Salawati, Aru Islands, Schouten Islands (Biak & Yapen), West Papua (Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea and Queenland on the E. Coast of the Cape York Peninsular.
• As a result of the holotypes, type locality was given as: Aru Islands
