ORDER

Squamata (Amphisbaenians, lizards and snakes)

FAMILY

Boidae (boas and pythons)

HABITAT AND RANGE

Native to the tropical forests of Central and South America most commonly in Columia. Boa constrictors may forage in the trees but they are mainly terrestrial, especially the larger ones, and live in hollow logs, mammal burrows, etc.

IDENTIFICATION

Closely related to the python, the boa constrictor is pale sandy brown (which may have a pink cast) with 15 to 20 chocolate brown marks on its back. Other members of the Boidae family have heat sensitive pits on their snouts, boas have less sensitive heat sensing scales. Normally grows to a length of 10 feet. The largest boa constrictor ever caught was 18.5 feet long. Males are generally smaller than females.

DIET

Chiefly large birds, iguanas and monkeys but will eat other mammals if it comes across them. The boa is generally terrestrial but may lie in wait in trees and strike at animals that come too close. Boa constrictors are ambush predators and once they take a hold of their prey they wrap their bodies around it and continuously tighten their bodies around their prey ultimately suffocating it.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

The female boa constrictor bears her young alive (ovoviviparous) and has been known to give birth to as many as 64 at one time after 100-150 days of development. Females may fast for the entire time they are gravid. The young are about 24 inches long. Lifespan is 20-50 years.

NOTES

Some island boids can change colors like chameleons. Boids breath with both longs; most other snakes have one large left lung and a vestigial right lung. Common boa constrictors belong to the Boa constrictor constrictor sp. While red-tailed boas are called Boa constrictor imperator.