Red Tailed Boa
Constrictor constrictor
Bolivian Red Tailed Boa Baby
Colombian Red Tailed Boa
What is the history of my relationship to man?
Habitat / Climate
Where am I from?
I may be found in a wide and varied habitat ranging from the Sonoran Desert in
Mexico through Central America and out lying islands to far northen Peru.
Who are my relatives?
Other family members: I am a Reptile from the Boidae family. I am a constrictor.
Ball Python
Anaconda
Red Tail Boa
Breeding Potential
Anaconda
Constriction is a method used by various snake species to kill their prey.
Although some species of venomous and mildly-venomous snakes do use
constriction to subdue their prey, most snakes which use constriction lack venom.
The snake initially strikes at its prey and holds on, pulling the prey into its coils
or, in the case of very large prey, pulling itself onto the prey. The snake will then
wrap one or two coils around the prey.
How am I born? After a gestational period of 4 -10 months (depending on temperature and several other
Number of offspring each birth? factors) my mother will give live birth to 10 -16 young. My mother will not bear young each year
10 - 16 snakelets
How long does it take me to grow up and how long do I live? I will go from being a
Number of offspring per year? cute little 14- 22 inch hatchling to a 5 - 6 feet snake in the first year of my life. That is a 300 % increase. The next
Don’t reproduce every year
year I will add another 3 - 4 feet in length. After this year my growth will slow down but I will continue to grow
the rest of my 30 or more years. The females typically will reach 7 - 9 feet in length and males 5 - 8 feet with a
maximum size of 12 feet and 50+ pounds.
Breeding Season
J
A
N
F M A M J J A S O N D
E A P A U U U E C O E
B R R Y N L G P T V C
What kind of family life do I have?
I am precocial so I am on my own as soon as I am hatched.
Names for:
Adult male: male
Adult female: female
Young: hatchling or neonates
Group:
What do I eat and when do I eat? I am a carnivore and primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, I come
out in the dusk and dark hours to eat amphibians, lizards, and other snakes, birds and mammals. Since I am a
constrictor I use my strong body to wrap around my prey and suffocate it. I then swallow it head first.
Photos by Paul Whitten
Who are my predators?
W hen I am young I am prey to birds and all my life I am prey to humans.
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