Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I'm new to Panama (moved here about 3 months ago) and I came across the first snake that has actually stayed still long enough to me to have a good look at. It was a tree snake, totally resembling a twig (brown, thin, mottled color) with HUGE eyes and a very pointy looking snout (for a snake at least). I had my hand holding his tail so he couldn't slither up in the trees until I had a good look at him. He was very long, about 3 ft. minimum. And then when my dog came to investigate, he opened his mouth at him, and the inside was PURPLE!? is that weird? Oh yeah, and his tongue didn't really flicker like a tongue, it was more like this protrusion that stuck out that he sucked back in. i didn't see it forked and I didn't see it wiggle, stuck straight out of his mouth. Anyone have any idea what kind of snake it is? I'd be curious to find out!
Thanks
Christy

I lived in Panama for 3 years by Fort Sherman . The wildlife is great . I am sure you have seen armidillos and Coutamundis in your yard.
I had a tree sloth that lived in a huge tree in my yard for 6 months .It was tame in so far as it was used to humans feeding him.
I would feed him fruit,vegetables than one day he left back into the jungle. If your into wildlife go by the mangrove swamps its unreal (dont go by yourself). A zillion mudskippers,unusual fish,etc.
The snorkeling is great .
I have no idea what type of snake you have in your yard as at that time I was afraid of snakes and would "run" if I saw any.
If you live near or within a few miles of the jungle edge you will in time see big boas to.
I loved Panama and 7 years later I miss it.
Allways use screens on your window as you know the mosquitos are huge but the tarantulas and scorpions crawl in even during daylight.
Enjoy the wildlife there its magnificent.
Luis

Oh great...tarantulas and scorpions? I live in Albrook, I have forest kind of next to my house, well a big green area and then forest. I've seen HUGE iguanas (I feed them parrot food, but I think the agoutis like it more than they do) and have had my fair share of tanagers, hummingbirds and honeycreepers fly inside my house and bang around on the windows. They geckos eat all my moths that land on the screens at night. And so far, the mosquitoes haven't been too bad. I'll get a few inside, but nothing as unbearable as living in Gamboa would be. My husbands going to be going to Fort Sherman tomorrow, apparently there are some soil plots out there he wants to take a look at. He's gotten nailed by chiggers out at BCI, so I'm sure he's going to acquire a few more tomorrow.
I'm really enjoying myself here so far. You are right, the wildlife is pretty spectacular. I'm still not used to looking up and seeing toucans and parrots flying wild! We also had a resident sloth and when it tried to cross the road during a downpour, my husband went out there and moved it to our forest since he was in danger of getting washed down the road and wasn't holding its head up over the water too well! I have a photo of that too!!
Can anyone identify my snake though???

If your husband is going to buy around Fort Sherman to build a house to live. The wildlife you have now is nothing compared to that area. Howler monkeys,incredible macaw parrots,treefrogs that look like paintings and jaguars (lol kidding no jaguars even remotely near villages,people )

You know there are alot of arboreal snakes that eat geckos,anoles,tree frogs so might be hard to pin point what type.
You might want to ask in the arboreal snake forum. If it wasnt for my wife and my job here I would go back there.
Once you get used to such nature you miss it. I kid you not about the tarantulas an open door or window with no screen in time will equal a tarantula in the house.
They are harmless but who needs the scare .
Luis

Your description comes closest to this snake. It is mildy venemous but not to be considered dangerous.

Frank
-----
"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

That is EXACTLY the snake that I saw. A Mexican Vine Snake and its only MILDLY poisonous! I am NOT going to be touching anymore snakes anytime soon. Thanks for letting me know!!!
Christy