Canopy creatures

Story by Leonard Cronin

What goes on up there, among the branches, where half of all the world’s plant and animal species hang out?

Let’s take a look at a few canopy creatures:

Green tree snake

Slipping silently through the treetops, this agile, slender, arboreal snake is non-venomous and lies in wait for frogs, geckos and any other small creatures that come within range of its razor sharp, backwards-facing teeth. It’s active during the day, and is often seen in urban areas looking for food. Green tree snakes are harmless, but if provoked, they will rise up, inflate their throat and release a foul smell from their anal glands.

Ant plant

The ant plant (Myrmecodia tuberosa) is an epiphyte that provides ready-built accommodation for ants in the form of hollow tubes and chambers in its tuberous base. In return for being housed high up in the canopy, the ants defend the plant from natural enemies (even a slight tap against the outside of an inhabited plant causes the ants to come rushing out). They also fertilise the plant and disperse its seeds. The plant also benefits, as it uses the ants’ waste as fertiliser.

Carpet python

Carpet pythons can be massive, growing to 4m long and weighing 15kg. They are ambush hunters, and squeeze the life out of their victims. Active at any time of day, they have the remarkable ability to see in the infrared, enabling them to catch warm-blooded prey in complete darkness. Carpet pythons spend much of their time in the treetops, coming down to the ground to bask in the sun. They frequently prey on backyard chickens, and take up residence in roof spaces in houses and outbuildings, feeding on rodents.

Mistletoebird

The mistletoebird is the principal seed disperser of Australian mistletoes, and it lives on little else. The berries have a laxative coating and pass through the bird’s digestive system in less than 25 minutes. To ensure their greatest chance of germination, the seeds have a sticky coat and stick to the bird’s tail feathers, encouraging the bird to rub itself on canopy branches to dislodge them. Complete with their own natural fertiliser, the seeds end up in exactly the right place for growth.