Red-Tailed Boa: Boa constrictor
In the Wild
Description:
Size: Typically reach 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4 m) long
o Maximum size recorded was 13 feet
o Can reach full size by the time they are 3 years old
o Sexual dimorphism: Females are generally larger than males
Weight: Typically reach 40-50 pounds (18-22 kg) but can weigh more than 100 pounds
(45 kg)
Coloration varies
o The tip of the tail is usually speckled with red blotches that decreases as they
continue up the body
o Body is usually tan or brown and can have variations of black or dark brown
patterns
o Pet trade breeders have created many new color morphs that are not seen in
wild populations
Habitat and Range:
Native to Mexico, Central America and south to Argentina
Prefer warm, tropical areas but may also be found in semi-deserts, rocky hillsides,
savannas, and near cultivated fields and homes
Often seen basking in warm locations – sometimes with part of their body or tail in
water
Those living in forests may spend a lot of time in trees, especially when small
Diet:
Carnivorous: Eat lizards, birds, rodents and bats
o They may occasionally eat larger animals such as monkeys, and even wild pigs
o Prey size depends on the size of the individual
o Do not eat carrion, only live food
Do not eat every day and perhaps only once a week
May not eat at all during cooler winter months
Begin eating live prey soon after birth
Adaptations:
Constrictor
o Grab prey with their teeth and wrap coils of their body around the prey and
squeeze
o Do not crush the prey and break the bones but rather squeeze tightly so that the
prey cannot breathe and suffocates
o Can unhinge their jaw to swallow the prey whole, utilizing rhythmic muscular
contractions that pull the prey down into their throat and stomach
o A special tube on the bottom of its mouth stays open to one side so the snake
can breathe while swallowing
07/25/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Red-Tailed Boa: Boa constrictor
Highly sensitive forked tongue and Jacobson’s organ
o Odor particles are collected by the forked tongue and transported back to the
Jacobson organ in the top of the mouth
o The Jacobson’s organ is a patch of sensory cells (chemoreceptor) that detects
both social chemical communication by pheromones and helps snakes hunt and
track their prey
Have relatively short, prehensile tails to securely grip branches
Have small teeth for gripping their prey, but no fangs or venom
Can detect both vibrations in the ground and sound vibrations through the air through
their jaw bones
Lifespan:
Typically live 20-35 years
Captive individuals have been recorded reaching 40 years of age
Ecosystem relationships:
Predators: Larger reptiles, birds and mammals; Young boas are especially vulnerable
Are important predators of rodents and opossums which can become pests in some
areas and carry human diseases
Reproduction:
Reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years of age
In captivity, a male might court a female for up to 5 weeks before copulation occurs
Females can store sperm for quite some time before fertilization takes place, so the
total apparent gestation can take 10 months
The female will usually eat little or nothing while she is retaining eggs
Are ovoviviparous
o This means that the female retains her eggs internally until they hatch, so she
bears live young
o Most reptiles lay eggs and let them develop and hatch externally
Most clutches number 20-50 eggs; the record is 77 at a zoo in Quebec, Canada
Are born after 4-5 months of development
Typically 17-20 inches (43-51 cm) long at birth
Activity:
Nocturnal or crepuscular, though they may bask in the sun to warm themselves in cool
weather
Mostly solitary, except during the rainy season when breeding typically occurs
Other “fun facts”:
The red-tailed boa is also often referred to as the common boa or Colombian red-tailed
boa
07/25/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Red-Tailed Boa: Boa constrictor
Opossums in the tropics can be carriers for the human disease leishmaniasis – boa
constrictor predation pressure may help to regulate opossum populations and decrease
potential transmission of leishmaniasis to humans
Conservation Status and Threats:
Are not considered an endangered species – however, the number of boa constrictors in
the wild is not well-known and they have become very rare in some parts of their range
particularly those on offshore islands
Factors leading to lower population numbers:
o Over-collection and exportation for the pet trade
o Habitat destruction
o Road mortality
o Hunting for skins to make tourist products or souvenirs
Conservation of snakes is a great benefit since they eat insects and rodents that eat
crops or spread disease
At the Zoo
Humphrey Boagart (Bogey) was adopted from a reptile rescue in 2008. His previous history and
age are unknown.
What We Can Do
Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – opt for fake leather over snake
skin products
o All of our shopping choices can have an impact on the environment and wildlife
so when available opt for recycled and local products
o Research responsible companies that do not use animal based products or
testing
Do your research before buying a pet
o Make sure you are not purchasing a wild-caught individual – captive-bred species
are often easy to find
o Make sure you know how to properly care for any animal before you decide to
buy it as a pet
 Some things to consider include adequate housing, diet, temperature
requirements, and lifespan
 Some pets also require a lot of time and money to be properly cared for
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution
References:
http://www.lazoo.org/animals/reptiles/boa_common/index.html
http://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=1933
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Boaconstric
tor.cfm
07/25/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Red-Tailed Boa: Boa constrictor
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Boa_constrictor.
html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/299124/Jacobsons-organ
http://www.neuro.fsu.edu/~mmered/vomer/snake.htm
07/25/2013
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore