When first sighted by keen nature photographer Ros at Yeranda the green tree snake was still very much alive.

“But by the time I returned with my camera the green tree snake was dead and on its way down the red bellied black snake's throat.

“For the next 45 minutes the green tree snake disappeared but the process slowed down and with just a few centimetres to go, what must have been a very satisfied black snake, took off in to near by grass.

Ros contacted well known University of Sydney herpetologist Professor Rick Shine who said he has have found a wide range of other reptiles inside the stomachs of blacksnakes he has cut up at various museums.

“I had a quick look at some of my old papers and have recorded Unechis (black-headed snake), Demansia (whipsnake), Hemiaspis (swamp snake), Pseudonaja (brownsnake), Boiga (brown tree snake) and even redbellies themselves,” Professor Shine said.

“But never a green tree snake.

“I get the impression that if the red bellied black is hungry enough, anything that fits

into its mouth is fair game."

Ros said it appears from this that the old tale of not killing any red bellied blacks is a good move.

“They will certainly reduce the brown snake population but sadly could also feed on less dangerous and threatened species as well!”