Boa Constrictor
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Boa Constrictor
Similar to the pit-viper in appearance, the boa also has a heavy-set body and a head that is noticeably wider than its neck as well as the numerous small scales covering the top of the head and the high number of scale rows that encircle the body which are all characteristics of the dangerously venomous pit vipers. Although it does have heat sensitive organs, unlike the pit viper, the boa does not have the deep heat-sensitive pits located between the eye and nostrils. The Boa constrictor senses the slightest variation in temperature because located inside the lip scales, they posses extremely sensitive nerve endings.
The background color of the Boa constrictor is either tan, gray, or yellowish brown patterned with spots, bars, and diamonds of brown, black, and white. But the most distinctive marking is a succession of light elliptical spots bordered in a dark tint that runs down the center of the back. As you get closer to the tail, the pattern begins to change into a row of large, circled chocolate brown spots delineated with light rings and on the tail itself, the dark spots are reddish brown. The head is the same light color as the body and has a wide, dark stripe that passes through the eye. The boa has vertically elliptical pupils and the iris is beige in color.
This snake is found in many parts of Costa Rica, from regions in close proximity to human settlements in Guanacaste to the wet rainforests of the Caribbean slope. It lives in altitudes from sea level to approximately 2,600 ft.
Usually a nocturnal snake, the Boa constrictor can sometimes be active during the day. They have been known to live on both the ground and in trees and from time to time even in animal burrows. They are difficult to spot because of their superb camouflage and even the biggest of boa’s can go unnoticed, which is extremely useful when hunting. Boa’s are ambush hunters and will pick a spot where prey may pass or wait motionless outside an entrance to a burrow. They will often wait in the same spot for a day or two before moving to another relatively close ambush location.
Much of what the boa feeds on is relative to its own size, but prey includes, iguanas, lizards, birds, rats, coatimundis, monkeys, anteaters and larger boas have been known to eat ocelots and white-tailed deer. The large Boa constrictor is at the top of the food chain and makes a formidable predator, which is the reason these individuals are very rare since their direct environment would not be able to handle a large population of such carnivores. To view a really large Boa constrictor would be the same as spotting a jaguar or a harpy eagle.
Boas are live-bearing snakes that can give birth to litters of up to 60 young, but very few will reach the age of maturity, as before they reach their massive size they can often be the prey of other predators as well.
Boas are usually docile and even when approached they will often do little to defend themselves. A bite from these snakes is not dangerous since their non-venomous, but do have the potential to be very painful since large boas can cause deep lacerations.
