An Amazon Tree Boa, spotted by flashlight on a boat in Peru. Unlike most snakes, their eyes shine orange-red in the light, and can be seen even high in trees. Birds and amphibians’ eyes also glow a similar color, though, so there are a lot of false calls of “snake!”.
Sonoran Sidewinders are very fast as they, essentially, tip-toe across hot desert sand. At night, they can be confused by flashlights and move with speed in surprising directions. This may be an explanation for reports of their “aggression”. In reality, they are timid, quick to flee, and often less likely to strike out defensively than other species in the area. This one was seen crossing a dirt road near Phoenix.
