Scientific Name:
Boa constrictor
Distribution
Northern Mexico south through Central and South America.
Diet:
Carnivore. Any mammals that can fit in their mouth, including bats, birds, amphibians, reptiles and eggs.
Facts
Habitat: Mainly in rainforest clearings or edges along streams and rivers, but also in woodlands, grasslands, thorn scrub, semi-desert, near human settlements, agricultural areas.
Gestation: 5-8 months, 10-64 young
Social structure: Solitary
Weight: 27kg max
Dimensions: 4m max
Lifespan: 20-30
IUCN Status: Not evaluated
Estimated population in the wild: Unknown
Threats: Hunting for their skin, meat and body parts, habitat loss, road mortality.
Did you know that:
- They are "ovoviviparous," meaning their eggs stay inside the mother's body until ready to hatch, after which she gives birth to live young. The babies are independent within minutes of their birth.
- They are non-venomous and prey is killed through constriction. They wrap their prey in the coils of their body and squeeze until the prey asphyxiates.
- All snakes has evolved from four-legged ancestors, but Boas still have some ancient features that have faded away in most snake species. That includes two functioning lungs (many snakes only use one lung, an adaptation to their elongated body shape) as well as remnants of legs known as "pelvic spurs" which they use during mating.