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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
boa constrictor, boa |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Squamata |
| FAMILY: |
Boidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Boa (type of snake) constrictor (to
grasp) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The boa constrictor is a large, heavy-bodied snake.
Their body markings consist of beige blotches on
a dark brown background. |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| SIZE: |
Adults range in size from 2.4-3 m (8-10 ft.); some
boas can exceed 3.6 m (12 ft.), but lengths of over
11 feet are extremely rare; newborn boas measure
about 60 cm (24 in.) |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| WEIGHT: |
Adult boas weigh approximately 27 kg (60 lb.) |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| DIET: |
Variety
of birds and mammals |
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| INCUBATION: |
8-12 weeks; Females are ovoviviparous - the young
develop in eggs that the female retains inside her
body. The young hatch from the eggs, then the mother
gives birth to the live young. |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
text |
| BREEDING
PERIOD |
text |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
2-3 years |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Along with ball pythons, boas are believed to be
some of the longest-lived of all snakes. In general,
boa constrictors can live 35 or more years. The
longest-lived boa ever recorded was 40 years, 4
months. |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| RANGE: |
Boa constrictors are native to Central and South
America. |
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| HABITAT: |
They inhabit dry tropical forests and open areas. |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
text |
| LOCAL |
text |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not listed |
| CITES |
Appendix II; one subspecies listed as Appendix I
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| USFWS |
In the United States, 1 subspecies listed as threatened
and 2 subspecies as endangered. In addition, several
other species are listed. |
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| 1. |
Boas are considered primitive snakes, differing
from other species by having two vestigial (remnant)
hind limbs. These vestigial limbs appear as spurs
on either side of the cloaca. |
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| 2. |
Like all snakes, boas are excellent swimmers, but
they usually avoid going into the water as much
as possible. |
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| 3. |
Boas have special heat-sensing pits on their faces
that allow them to detect the body heat of their
prey. Boas are nocturnal hunters - they rely on
heat-sensing abilities to hunt in the dark. |
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| 4. |
text |
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| 5. |
text |
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| 6. |
text |
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Boas, like many other large snakes, are killed
for their skins, which are highly prized in the
leather trade. These snakes are not farmed for
their skins, and collecting them from the wild
has caused population declines.
Boas
are also consumed by indigenous people and collected
for the pet trade. They have long been popular
as pets because of their large size and relatively
calm demeanor.
Probably
their biggest threats are the ever-increasing
human populations and the loss of prime habitat.
Boas are very important in controlling rodent
populations which, when in excess, can have a
seriously negative impact on the environment.
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Bauchot, Roland (ed.). Snakes a Natural History.
New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1994.
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Ernst, Carl H., and Zug, George R. Snakes in
Question. Washington: Smithsonian Institution
Press, 1996. |
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Mattison, Chris. Snakes of the World. New
York: Facts on File Publications, Inc., 1986.
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| Mehrtens,
John M. Living Snakes of the World. New York:
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. |
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| Stafford,
Peter J. Pythons and Boas. New Jersey: T.F.H.
Publications, Inc., 1986. |
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