BOA CONSTRICTOR
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Boa constrictor
HOUSE NAME: "Big Mama" & "Nagini"
HABITAT: A wide range of habitats from semi-desert regions in Mexico to moist rain forests of Central and South America.
CONSERVATION STATUS: Least Concern
FUN FACT:
The boa constrictor is ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young. Although no true placental connection between mother and young exists (as in mammals) there is a mechanism to allow exchange of oxygen and other necessary elements.
DIET:
Primarily rodents, plus small mammals, lizards, frogs, birds, and snakes.
DESCRIPTION:
It is tan, brown and black with large spots on its back and sides; tail may have reddish/orange tint to spots. Head is flattened and blunted at the front with a dark stripe pattern continuing through the eye. Boids have vestigial limbs in the form of tiny claws on either side of their vent. This is what remains of their pelvic girdle. Newborn boas range from 14 to 22 inches long and weigh between two and three ounces. Depending on the subspecies, adult boas may range from 4 to 12 feet, and very rarely, up to 15 feet in length. The longest boa on record is a red-tailed boa with a reported length of 18½ feet. Few boa constrictors raised in captivity will exceed 60 pounds, with some races not exceeding 30 pounds. They lack ears and eyelids, and have a soft, slender, black, harmless, forked tongue that is used for detecting smells.