WASHINGTON DC — A green tree python (Morelia viridis) is displayed at the Reptile House in the National Zoo. This species possesses specialized heat sensors located on its lips that enable it to detect infrared radiation from warm-blooded prey, particularly during nighttime hunting. The sensors allow the python to perceive heat signatures that are invisible to human vision, providing a significant advantage when tracking prey in low-light conditions. Green tree pythons are native to the rainforests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia, where they spend most of their time coiled on branches

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