Boa Constrictor

Along with the anaconda and the python, the boa constrictor is one of the largest snakes in the world. As is apparent from its very name, the boa constrictor coils its body around its prey, and squeezes or constricts its coils a little at a time with each breath the prey takes, until it can breathe no longer. Here are some more facts about boa constrictors:

These nonpoisonous snakes are found in hot, tropical parts of the world, and it can live on trees as well as the ground. The rain forest is the preferred habitat of the boa constrictor, although it can also be found in the semiarid regions of the Savannah.

Since its habitat covers such a wide area, the size, marking, and color of the boa constrictor varies quite a great deal. For example, it can grow up to 20 feet long in Venezuela and Trinidad, while in Central America it grows up to 10 feet in length, and is just 3 feet long in Hog Island, which is off Central America.

Amongst all the reptiles, the markings on the skin of the boa constrictor are some of the most distinctive. Their skin can be yellow, red, green, or tan, displaying cryptic patterns made up of circles, diamonds, ovals, and jagged lines, depending on the type of environment they are trying to blend into.

The boa constrictor can be active all through the year in warmer climes. However, it can be inactive for long periods of time in cooler climates.

The jaws of the boa constrictor are lined with hooked, small teeth, which it uses to grab and hold its prey while it coils its body around it. It eats practically anything it can catch, such as lizards, birds, frogs, caimans, agoutis, capybaras, wild pigs, monkeys, and deer.

Being an excellent swimmer, the boa constrictor spends a lot of time in and near waterways, lying in wait for prey that comes to drink water. Once it manages to overpower its victim, it stretches its jaws wide open and swallows it up whole.

Although the boa constrictor is a good swimmer, and will spend a lot of its time in or near water in order to hunt for food, it prefers staying on dry land, living mainly in abandoned burrows of mammals and hollow logs.

Because the boa constrictor is slow moving and cold blooded, it does not need great amounts of food. After it feeds on a large prey, like a wild pig, it can go without food for up to a week, or even more.

The female boa constrictor incubates its eggs inside its body, giving birth to as many as 60 live babies. At birth, the baby boa constrictor can be about 0.6 meters or 2 feet in length, and grows continuously all through its 25-30 year lifespan.

The boa constrictor has claw-like appendages on either side of its genital opening, which are the vestiges, or remnants, of the hind limbs that it has inherited from its lizard-like ancestors.

These vestigial hind legs are evidence that the boa constrictor is one of the most primitive amongst the living snakes.

When the boa constrictor feels threatened it hisses so loudly that it can be heard up to a distance of 100 feet.

Most boa constrictors have a protected status in their habitats, while some of them are on the endangered animals list because of their popularity in the exotic pet business and due to being hunted for its ornate, beautiful skin.