[Animals]Boa Constrictor

[𝐌𝐑-𝐀𝐇𝐌𝐄𝐃 体]

Boa Constrictor

Boa constrictors are powerful snakes and stealthy hunters. They live in tropical climates throughout most of Central and South America, where they hunt at night.

The boa's hunting technique is generally to ambush prey, such as rats, birds, monkeys, or wild pigs.
 

COMMON NAME: 

Boa Constrictor

SCIENTIFIC NAME: 

Boa constrictor

TYPE: 

Reptiles

DIET: 

Carnivore

GROUP NAME: 

Bed, knot

AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 

20 to 30 years

SIZE: 

13 feet

WEIGHT: 

60 pounds

The boa's hunting technique is generally to ambush prey, such as rats, birds, monkeys, or wild pigs. The snake swallows its prey whole. Food is digested by strong stomach acids. After a large meal, a boa doesn't need to eat again for weeks. A boa constrictor grows throughout its whole life, which can be 20 to 30 years. An adult boa will generally weigh more than 100 pounds (45 kilograms) and grow to about 13 feet (4 meters) long. Boa constrictors tend to live alone.
Mother boas give birth to about 60 babies at a time! A baby boa is on its own from the start. It is born with the instinct, or built-in knowledge, of how to hunt. It also has an instinct to hide to stay safe from predators. The baby boa's diet changes as it grows. The bigger it gets, the bigger its preferred prey becomes.
Several subspecies of Boa constrictor have been described in the past, but many of these are poorly differentiated, and further research may redefine many of them. Some appear to be based more on location rather than on biological differences.[10] Boa imperator,[11] Boa nebulosa,[3] Boa orophias and Boa sigma[12] have all been elevated to full species status.
The boa constrictor is a large snake, although it is only modestly sized in comparison to other large snakes, such as the reticulated python, Burmese python, or the occasionally sympatric green anaconda, and can reach lengths from 3 to 13 ft (0.91 to 3.96 m) depending on the locality and the availability of suitable prey.[16] Clear sexual dimorphism is seen in the species, with females generally being larger in both length and girth than males. The usual size of mature female boas is between 7 and 10 ft (2.1 and 3.0 m) whereas males are between 6 and 8 ft (1.8 and 2.4 m).[17] Females commonly exceed 10 ft (3.0 m), particularly in captivity, where lengths up to 12 ft (3.7 m) or even 14 ft (4.3 m) can be seen.[18] The largest documented non-stretched dry skin is deposited at Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM 4961/2012) and measures 14.6 ft (4.45 m) without head.[19] A report of a boa constrictor growing up to 18.5 ft (5.6 m) was later found to be a misidentified green anaconda.[20] The boa constrictor is a heavy-bodied snake, and large specimens can weigh up to 27 kg (60 lb). Females, the larger sex, more commonly weigh 10 to 15 kg (22 to 33 lb).[21] Some specimens of this species can reach or possibly exceed 45 kg (100 lb), although this is not usual.[22] The size and weight of a boa constrictor depends on subspecies, locale, and the availability of suitable prey. B. c. constrictor reaches, and occasionally tops, the averages given above, as it is one of the relatively large subspecies of Boa constrictor.[17] Other examples of sexual dimorphism in the species include males generally having longer tails to contain the hemipenes and also longer pelvic spurs, which are used to grip and stimulate the female during co[CENSORED]tion.[23] Pelvic spurs are the only external sign of the rudimentary hind legs and pelvis and are seen in all boas and pythons.

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