Boa Constrictor
Facts
Conservation Status: CITES Appendix II
Location: North, Central, and South America, some Caribbean islands
Lifespan: 20 to 30 years in captivity
Conservation Status: CITES Appendix II
Location: North, Central, and South America, some Caribbean islands
Lifespan: 20 to 30 years in captivity
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Subfamily: Boinae
Genus: Boa
Species: B. constrictor
Binomial name: Boa constrictor
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Subfamily: Boinae
Genus: Boa
Species: B. constrictor
Binomial name: Boa constrictor
Description
Length: Males - 6 to 8 ft. Females - 7 to 10 ft.
Weight: Up to 27 kg (60 lb)
Other: The Boa constrictor is a heavy-bodied snake. There is clear sexual dimorphism seen in the species, with females generally being significantly larger in both length and girth than males. Other examples of sexual dimorphism in the species include the fact that males generally have longer tails to contain the hemipenes and also longer pelvic spurs, which are used to grip and stimulate the female during copulation. Pelvic spurs are the only external sign of the rudimentary hind legs and pelvis, seen in all boas and pythons.
Length: Males - 6 to 8 ft. Females - 7 to 10 ft.
Weight: Up to 27 kg (60 lb)
Other: The Boa constrictor is a heavy-bodied snake. There is clear sexual dimorphism seen in the species, with females generally being significantly larger in both length and girth than males. Other examples of sexual dimorphism in the species include the fact that males generally have longer tails to contain the hemipenes and also longer pelvic spurs, which are used to grip and stimulate the female during copulation. Pelvic spurs are the only external sign of the rudimentary hind legs and pelvis, seen in all boas and pythons.
Subspecies
Subspecies Taxon Author Common name Geographic range
B. c. amarali Stull, 1932 Amaral's boa Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay
B. c. constrictor Linnaeus, 1758 Red-tailed boa South America
B. c. imperator Daudin, 1803 Common northern boa Central America and northern South America
B. c. longicauda Price & Russo, 1991 Tumbes Peru boa Northern Peru
B. c. melanogaster Langhammer, 1983 Ecuadorian boa Ecuador
B. c. nebulosa Lazell, 1964 Dominican clouded boa Dominica
B. c. occidentalis Philippi, 1873 Argentine boa Argentina and Paraguay
B. c. orophias Linnaeus, 1758 St. Lucia boa St. Lucia
B. c. ortonii Cope, 1878 Orton's boa South America
B. c. sabogae Barbour, 1906 Pearl Island boa "Pearl Islands" off the coast of Panama
Subspecies Taxon Author Common name Geographic range
B. c. amarali Stull, 1932 Amaral's boa Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay
B. c. constrictor Linnaeus, 1758 Red-tailed boa South America
B. c. imperator Daudin, 1803 Common northern boa Central America and northern South America
B. c. longicauda Price & Russo, 1991 Tumbes Peru boa Northern Peru
B. c. melanogaster Langhammer, 1983 Ecuadorian boa Ecuador
B. c. nebulosa Lazell, 1964 Dominican clouded boa Dominica
B. c. occidentalis Philippi, 1873 Argentine boa Argentina and Paraguay
B. c. orophias Linnaeus, 1758 St. Lucia boa St. Lucia
B. c. ortonii Cope, 1878 Orton's boa South America
B. c. sabogae Barbour, 1906 Pearl Island boa "Pearl Islands" off the coast of Panama
Behaviour
Boa constrictors are solitary animals, and will only associate with conspecifics to mate. They are nocturnal, however they may bask during the day when night-time temperatures are too low. As semi-arboreal snakes, young boa constrictor individuals may climb into trees and shrubs to forage, however they become mostly terrestrial as they become older and heavier. Boa constrictors will strike when threatened, and will bite in defense. This bite can be painful, especially from large snakes, but is rarely dangerous. However, care must be taken to ensure that infection doesn't result from the injury. Specimens from Central America are more irascible, hissing loudly and striking repeatedly when disturbed, while those from South Americatame down more readily. Like all snakes, Boa constrictors that are in a shed cycle will be more unpredictable. This is because the substance that lubricates between the old skin and the new will make the eyes appear "milky" or "opaque", and as such the snake cannot see very well. This will cause it to be more defensive than it may be otherwise.
Boa constrictors are solitary animals, and will only associate with conspecifics to mate. They are nocturnal, however they may bask during the day when night-time temperatures are too low. As semi-arboreal snakes, young boa constrictor individuals may climb into trees and shrubs to forage, however they become mostly terrestrial as they become older and heavier. Boa constrictors will strike when threatened, and will bite in defense. This bite can be painful, especially from large snakes, but is rarely dangerous. However, care must be taken to ensure that infection doesn't result from the injury. Specimens from Central America are more irascible, hissing loudly and striking repeatedly when disturbed, while those from South Americatame down more readily. Like all snakes, Boa constrictors that are in a shed cycle will be more unpredictable. This is because the substance that lubricates between the old skin and the new will make the eyes appear "milky" or "opaque", and as such the snake cannot see very well. This will cause it to be more defensive than it may be otherwise.
Predators or Prey?
Predators of Boa Constrictors include humans, jaguars, and crocodiles. Prey includes a wide variety of mammals and birds. Young Boas will prey on mice, birds, bats, lizards, and amphibians.
Predators of Boa Constrictors include humans, jaguars, and crocodiles. Prey includes a wide variety of mammals and birds. Young Boas will prey on mice, birds, bats, lizards, and amphibians.
Diet
Boa constrictors eat mammals and birds. The young Boas eat small animals such as mice, birds, bats, lizards, and amphibians. The size of the prey/food will increase as they get older and larger. Boa constrictors are ambush predators and as such will often lie in wait for an appropriate prey to come along at which point they will attack. However, they have also been known to actively hunt, particularly in regions with a low concentration of suitable prey, and this behaviour generally occurs at night. The boa will first strike at the prey, grabbing it with its teeth, it then proceeds to constrict the prey until death before consuming it whole. Their teeth also help force the animal down the throat whilst muscles then move it towards the stomach. It will take the snake approximately 4–6 days to fully digest the food, depending on the size of the prey and the local temperature. After this the snake may not eat for anywhere from a week to several months, due to its slow metabolism.
Boa constrictors eat mammals and birds. The young Boas eat small animals such as mice, birds, bats, lizards, and amphibians. The size of the prey/food will increase as they get older and larger. Boa constrictors are ambush predators and as such will often lie in wait for an appropriate prey to come along at which point they will attack. However, they have also been known to actively hunt, particularly in regions with a low concentration of suitable prey, and this behaviour generally occurs at night. The boa will first strike at the prey, grabbing it with its teeth, it then proceeds to constrict the prey until death before consuming it whole. Their teeth also help force the animal down the throat whilst muscles then move it towards the stomach. It will take the snake approximately 4–6 days to fully digest the food, depending on the size of the prey and the local temperature. After this the snake may not eat for anywhere from a week to several months, due to its slow metabolism.
Habitat
Dependent on subspecies, the Boa constrictor can be found from northern Mexico through Central America (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama) toSouth America north of 35°S (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay and Argentina). Boa constrictor flourishes in a wide variety of environmental conditions, from tropical rainforests to arid semi-desert country. However, it prefers to live in rainforest due to the humidity and temperature, natural cover from predators and vast amount of potential prey. It is commonly found in or along rivers and streams, as it is a very capable swimmer. Boa constrictor will also occupy the burrows of medium-sized mammals, where it can hide from potential predators.
Dependent on subspecies, the Boa constrictor can be found from northern Mexico through Central America (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama) toSouth America north of 35°S (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay and Argentina). Boa constrictor flourishes in a wide variety of environmental conditions, from tropical rainforests to arid semi-desert country. However, it prefers to live in rainforest due to the humidity and temperature, natural cover from predators and vast amount of potential prey. It is commonly found in or along rivers and streams, as it is a very capable swimmer. Boa constrictor will also occupy the burrows of medium-sized mammals, where it can hide from potential predators.
Conservation
All Boa constrictors fall under CITES and are listed under CITES Appendix II, except B.c.occidentalis which is listed in CITES Appendix I. In some regions Boa constrictor numbers have been severely hit by predation from humans and other animals, and over collection for the exotic and snake skin trades. However most populations are not under threat of immediate extinction, thus why they are within Appendix II rather than Appendix I.
All Boa constrictors fall under CITES and are listed under CITES Appendix II, except B.c.occidentalis which is listed in CITES Appendix I. In some regions Boa constrictor numbers have been severely hit by predation from humans and other animals, and over collection for the exotic and snake skin trades. However most populations are not under threat of immediate extinction, thus why they are within Appendix II rather than Appendix I.
Reproduction
Boa constrictors are ovoviviparous (eggs develop inside the female's body), giving birth to live young. They will generally breed in the dry season—between April and August—and are polygynous, thus males may mate with multiple females. A half of all females will breed in a given year, and a larger percentage of males will actively attempt to locate a mate. However due to the polygynous nature of Boa constrictor many of these males will be unsuccessful. The reasoning being the fact that they are ovovivparous. As such female boas without a good enough physical condition will be unlikely to attempt to mate, nor produce viable young if they do mate. In 2010, a boa constrictor was shown to have reproduced asexually without a male.
During breeding season the female boa will emit a scent from her cloaca to attract males, who may then wrestle for the right to breed with her. During breeding the male will curl his tail around the females and the hemipenes will be inserted. Copulation can last from a few minutes to several hours, and may occur several times over a few week period. After this period ovulation may not occur immediately, however the female can hold the sperm inside her for up to one year. When the female ovulates, a mid-body swell can be noticed that appears similar to after the snake has eaten a large meal. The female will then shed 2 to 3 weeks after ovulation, with what is known as a post ovulation shed which will last another 2–3 weeks, which is longer than a normal shed. The gestation period, which is counted from the post ovulation shed, is approximately 100–120 days. The female will then give birth to young that average 15-20 inches (38–51 cm) in length. The litter size varies between females, but can be between 10 and 65 young with an average of 25, although some of the young may be still borns or non fertilised eggs known as "slugs". The young are independent at birth and will grow rapidly for the first few years, shedding regularly (once every one to two months). At between 3–4 years Boa constrictors become sexually mature and will have reached the adult size of between 6–10 ft, although they will continue to grow at a slow rate for the rest of their lives. At this point they will shed less frequently, approximately every 2–4 months.
Boa constrictors are ovoviviparous (eggs develop inside the female's body), giving birth to live young. They will generally breed in the dry season—between April and August—and are polygynous, thus males may mate with multiple females. A half of all females will breed in a given year, and a larger percentage of males will actively attempt to locate a mate. However due to the polygynous nature of Boa constrictor many of these males will be unsuccessful. The reasoning being the fact that they are ovovivparous. As such female boas without a good enough physical condition will be unlikely to attempt to mate, nor produce viable young if they do mate. In 2010, a boa constrictor was shown to have reproduced asexually without a male.
During breeding season the female boa will emit a scent from her cloaca to attract males, who may then wrestle for the right to breed with her. During breeding the male will curl his tail around the females and the hemipenes will be inserted. Copulation can last from a few minutes to several hours, and may occur several times over a few week period. After this period ovulation may not occur immediately, however the female can hold the sperm inside her for up to one year. When the female ovulates, a mid-body swell can be noticed that appears similar to after the snake has eaten a large meal. The female will then shed 2 to 3 weeks after ovulation, with what is known as a post ovulation shed which will last another 2–3 weeks, which is longer than a normal shed. The gestation period, which is counted from the post ovulation shed, is approximately 100–120 days. The female will then give birth to young that average 15-20 inches (38–51 cm) in length. The litter size varies between females, but can be between 10 and 65 young with an average of 25, although some of the young may be still borns or non fertilised eggs known as "slugs". The young are independent at birth and will grow rapidly for the first few years, shedding regularly (once every one to two months). At between 3–4 years Boa constrictors become sexually mature and will have reached the adult size of between 6–10 ft, although they will continue to grow at a slow rate for the rest of their lives. At this point they will shed less frequently, approximately every 2–4 months.
