Corallus caninus Nederland - website dedicated to the Emerald Tree Boa of South America

Website dedicated to the husbandry and breeding of the emerald tree boa (and other tree boas) of South America

SPECIATION IN CORALLUS CANINUS (4)

The above map shows the distribution of distinct variations of Corallus caninus.
1: Colombia (isolated range]; 2: Northern Shield; 3: Basin; 4: Brazil; 5: Bolivia; 6: Peru; 7: Ecuador. Corallus caninus does not occur north of Colombia or Venezuela.

4: The true Amazon variation is very much like the Northern Shield variant, but patterns may differ somewhat. Amazon C. caninus also have larger snout scales and are unlike the Amazon Basin variation. They are also darker green and may have some dark grey or black shades towards the head.

5: Specimens found in Bolivia are much like the Northern Shield variants and Amazon variants. However, their patterns and colours may be more striking. Like the Amazon variants, they may also have very yellow bellies, unlike those found in Surinam [with white or cream coloured bellies]. The dorsal blotches are smaller than in the Northen Shield variants, but scale counts are similar.

6: The Peruvian C. caninus can be split up into 2 different variants: the Peruvian Basin and the normal Peruvian or transitional outcrosses between the two showing features of both variants.

7: Corallus caninus found in Ecuador are of a lighter green than the Amazons and Northern Shield variants, but scale counts are similar. Their coloration is often more 'vivid'.

Typical 'Basin' variant [Amazonian Peru and Ecuador - notice the fine lines as opposed to triangular blotches as in the Brasilian counterpart]

Typical Venezuela [northern] variant

Typical Amazon [southern] variant - not to be confused with the 'Amazon Basin' variant