Boa constrictor: Difference between revisions
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==Ecology== |
==Ecology== |
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The boa constrictor's diet ranges from small [[rodent]]s and [[lizard]]s to large [[bird]]s, [[Callithrix|marmosets]], [[coatimundi]], [[iguana]] and [[opossum]]s. They locate prey by scent but are generally considered opportunistic eaters, preferring to ambush rather than hunt. This is, however, not true for all species; the Puerto Rican Boa will hang in the mouths of caves snatching bats as they fly by. Unlike pythons, they do not have heat sensitive scales on their snout. Also, boas give birth to live young and do not |
The boa constrictor's diet ranges from small [[rodent]]s and [[lizard]]s to large [[bird]]s, [[Callithrix|marmosets]], [[coatimundi]], [[iguana]] and [[opossum]]s. They locate prey by scent but are generally considered opportunistic eaters, preferring to ambush rather than hunt. This is, however, not true for all species; the Puerto Rican Boa will hang in the mouths of caves snatching bats as they fly by. Unlike pythons, they do not have heat sensitive scales on their snout. Also, boas give birth to live young and do not la. |
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Large boas are occasionally preyed upon by [[jaguar]]s and [[caiman]]s. Smaller subspecies may be eaten by a variety of animals, including various jungle cats, [[tayra]], [[birds of prey]], and even some species of crab. |
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==In captivity== |
==In captivity== |
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Revision as of 17:41, 29 April 2008
- Red-tailed boa redirects here. For other uses, see Boa Constrictor (disambiguation)
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| Species: | B. constrictor
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| Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758
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The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), red-tailed boa, jibóia (Latin American name) or macajuel (pronounced mah-cah-well) (Trinidadian name)[1] is a species of boa that can grow up to 13 feet long. It represents a rare case of an animal having the same common and scientific name. Though all boa species are constrictors, in that they kill their prey by constriction, only one species is properly called a "boa constrictor."
Ecology
The boa constrictor's diet ranges from small rodents and lizards to large birds, marmosets, coatimundi, iguana and opossums. They locate prey by scent but are generally considered opportunistic eaters, preferring to ambush rather than hunt. This is, however, not true for all species; the Puerto Rican Boa will hang in the mouths of caves snatching bats as they fly by. Unlike pythons, they do not have heat sensitive scales on their snout. Also, boas give birth to live young and do not la.
In captivity
Boa constrictors do well in captivity, usually becoming quite tame, and are a common sight in zoos. They can live up to 20 to 30 years old in captivity, with rare accounts of over 40 years old, making them a long-term commitment as a pet. Animal husbandry is the most significant factor in captive lifespan.
While still imported in significant numbers, boa constrictors are widely bred in captivity, both for the casual pet trade and among serious herpetocultural hobbiests. In addition to normal-appearing specimens, animals exhibiting a wide variety of color and pattern mutations (e.g. albinism) are being produced. Many of these are quite expensive.
The subspecies most readily available commercially is B. c. imperator, often termed the "common boa" or "Colombian redtail boa," even though its tail markings tend toward brown rather than the deep red or reddish brown of the "true redtail" subspecies, B. c. constrictor. B. c. imperator is a wide-ranging subspecies and its appearance varies greatly with location. Mainland specimens from Colombia can be among the larger boas, but this subspecies also includes a number of dwarf insular populations, such as those from various Caribbean islands and the Sonoran desert of Mexico. These populations represent the smallest of the boa constrictors.
In recent years many herpetoculurists, mostly working with B. c. imperator, have dedicated themselves to the reproduction of animals with unusual and sometimes spectacular color and pattern mutations, referred to as "morphs" within the hobby. Specimens with anomalous appearance crop up from time to time among imports, or in captive bred animals. When this occurs, breeders will attempt to breed the animal to its own close relations, often its own offspring. If the issue of these breedings show the same traits, then the trait has been "proven" to be an inheritable genetic mutation. Often breeding programs are established to combine more than one mutation, producing even more unusual-looking animals that would never be seen in nature.
Other herpetoculturists prefer natural-looking animals, and many have focused on producing animals they believe to be representative of those found in particular geographic localities in nature. For example, they may breed only B. c. constrictor specimens from Suriname, or B. c. imperator specimens from Cayo de los Cochinos (Hog Island) off the coast of Honduras. These efforts are often complicated by the uncertain provenance of boa constrictors in captivity. Imported animals often lack collection data, or the data are inaccurate.
References
- ^ Mendes, John. 1986. Cote ce Cote la: Trinidad & Tobago Dictionary, Arima, Trinidad, p. 92.