Their eyes may also appear blue, or opaque so that the snake cannot see very well, making them more defensive than they usually are. Their bites, particularly from large snakes, can be painful, but they are rarely harmful to humans.īoa constrictors are more unstable in a shed cycle, like all snakes, since the material that lubricates between the old skin and the new makes their eyes look milky. When they perceive a threat, Boa constrictors strike. Young boa constrictors can climb into trees and shrubs to forage as semi-arboreal snakes however, they become more terrestrial as they become older and heavier. They are nocturnal, but when night-time temperatures are too low, they may bask during the day. Behaviourīoa constrictors usually live on their own and unless they wish to mate, do not associate with any other snakes. The arrow-shaped head of the Boa constrictors has very distinctive stripes on it: one extends from the snout to the back of the head dorsally the other runs from the snout to the eyes and then from the eyes to the jaw. While these specimens are uncommon in the wild, in captivity they are common, where they are often selectively bred to produce a range of “morphs” of different colours. There are pigment defects in some specimen, such as albinism. constrictor species the common name of the “red-tailed boas.” In general, they have a brown, grey, or cream base colour, patterned with “saddles” of brown or reddish-brown that becomes more pronounced towards the tail. The colouring of boa constrictors can vary greatly depending on the locality. Scalationīoa imperator has 50 to 95 dorsal scales, 223 to 252 ventral scales, 43 to 69 subcaudal scales, 19 to 25 supralabial scales, and 1 to 3 anal scales. Constrictor meets the averages given above and sometimes tops them, as it is one of the relatively large Boa constrictor subspecies. Some Individuals of this species can reach or exceed 100 lb (45 kg), although this is not customary.Ī boa constrictor’s size and weight depends on the subspecies, availability of suitable prey, and locale. Generally, females, the larger sex, can weigh 22 to 33 lb (10 to 15 kg). The boa constrictor is considered a heavy-bodied snake and can weigh up to 60 lb (27 kg) (large specimens). The normal size of mature female boas is between 2.1 and 3.0 m (7 and 10 ft), while males are 1.8 and 2.4 m (6 and 8 ft).įemales usually exceed 3.0 m (10 ft), especially in captivity, where lengths of up to 3.7 m (12 ft) or even 4.3 m (14 ft) can be seen.Īt the Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM 4961/2012), the largest recorded non-stretched dry skin is stored and measures 14.6 ft (14.3 m). The species exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, with females usually being larger in both girth and length than males. The boa constrictor is a large snake, but compared to other large snakes, such as the reticulated python, Burmese python, or the sometimes sympatric green anaconda, it is only modestly scaled and can reach lengths of 0.91 to 3.96 m (3 to 13 ft) depending on the location and the availability of suitable prey. While some of these are contentious, nine subspecies are currently recognised. Its colour pattern is highly variable and recognizable, a hallmark of private collections and public displays. The boa constrictor is a well-known member of the Boidae family, mostly found in tropical South America, as well as some Caribbean islands. ![]() ![]() The boa constrictor also referred to as the common boa or the red-tailed boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is mostly kept and bred in captivity.
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