Prey includes a wide variety of small to medium-sized mammals and birds. Like all snakes, boa constrictors in a shed cycle are more unpredictable, because the substance that lubricates between the old skin and the new makes their eyes appear milky, blue, or opaque, so that the snake cannot see very well, causing it to be more defensive than it might be otherwise. Specimens from Central America are more irascible, hissing loudly and striking repeatedly when disturbed, while those from South America tame down more readily. Their bite can be painful, especially from large snakes, but is rarely dangerous to humans. Boa constrictors strike when they perceive a threat. As semi-arboreal snakes, young boa constrictors may climb into trees and shrubs to forage however, they become mostly terrestrial as they become older and heavier. They are nocturnal, but they may bask during the day when night-time temperatures are too low. BehaviorĪ juvenile female boa constrictor in a shed cycle, note the blue "opaque" eyesīoa constrictors generally live on their own, and do not interact with any other snakes unless they want to mate. Boa constrictors also occupy the burrows of medium-sized mammals, where they can hide from potential predators. It is commonly found in or along rivers and streams, as it is a very capable swimmer. However, it prefers to live in rainforest due to the humidity and temperature, natural cover from predators, and vast amount of potential prey. constrictor flourishes in a wide variety of environmental conditions, from tropical rainforests to arid semidesert country. The type locality given is "Indiis" – a mistake, according to Peters and Orejas-Miranda (1970).ī. Croix in the US Virgin Islands now appears to be reproducing in the wild. An introduced population exists in extreme southern Florida, and a small population on St. Lucia), on San Andrés, Providencia and many other islands along the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America. There are currently 10 subspecies and several other species that look very similar, so misidentification is very common.Depending on subspecies, Boa constrictor can be found through Central America ( Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama) to South America north of 35°S ( Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Argentina), and in the Lesser Antilles ( Dominica and St. constrictor species is difficult and complex. Juveniles are more likely to be climbing than full grown adults. They can climb somewhat, but their weight prevents them from getting too far up. Coming from the Amazon rainforest, boas prefer warm, humid environments. They are generally 6-9 ft long, with the females being larger, and grow continuously throughout their lives. In the wild, they live about 20 years, but in captivity they usually live 25-35 years. They also do not have fangs, but rather a row of small teeth that are continuously replaced through life. These are constrictors, meaning they squeeze their prey to kill them rather than inject venom. They are popular to keep as pets because of their docile nature and ease of handling. They have iridescent scales, meaning that when their scales get hit by sunlight, they shine like a rainbow. Of course, their tail is a dark red color. They also have dark strips on top of their head and behind their eyes. Standard Red Tails are a light brownish gray in color, with darker saddle-like markings down their body. Colombian Red Tail Boas are a subspecies of the standard Boa Constrictor species.
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