BOA CONSTRICTOR: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, REPRODUCTION, FEEDING - BIOLOGY - 2025

The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) is a non-venomous snake that belongs to the Boidae family. Its body is covered in scales, the coloration of which varies according to the habitat and the subspecies. However, it is generally cream, brown or gray, with patterns in reddish brown tones.

Its natural habitat includes scrublands, deserts, island territories and tropical forests. In terms of distribution, it ranges from northern Mexico to Argentina, including the Caribbean islands.

Boa constrictor. Source: pixabay.com

The most prominent feature of this species is its method of killing prey. The mazacuata captures the animal with its mouth, and hits it against a hard surface. Then, she rolls her body around that of the prey and contracts her muscles, squeezing them tightly.

Through constriction, he manages to paralyze the animal's heart. In this way, death occurs in a few seconds, because the blood does not reach the brain. This contradicts the previous idea that the reptile killed by crushing, suffocating or breaking the bones of the animal that they are going to eat.

The prey is swallowed whole and during this process, breathing is not interrupted. This is because as you consume it, the glottis, an opening at the back of the tongue, moves to the side of the mouth.

characteristics

Size and weight

The boa constrictor is a snake that presents a notorious sexual dimorphism, with the female being larger than the male. However, the male's tail is proportionally longer than that of the female, since the hemipenis are found there.

Also, the weight and size depends on the availability of the prey, the geographic location and the subspecies. In general, a mature female is 2.1 to 3 meters long, although it can reach 4 meters. As for the adult male, it has a length of 1.8 to 2.4 meters.

On the other hand, the body mass of the female is between 10 to 15 kilograms. However, species up to 27 kilograms have been recorded.

Coloration

The coloration of the mazacuata varies according to the subspecies and the place where it lives. However, in general, it is brown, cream or gray. On this basis, the stamped patterns that characterize it stand out. These are in shades of brown or reddish-brown, which become more pronounced towards the end of the tail.

Likewise, the designs of said drawings can have the shape of diamonds, bars, circles and irregular lines. Also, on the sides of the body, it has rhomboid markings in a dark shade.

In relation to the head, the Boa constrictor has three marks that distinguish it as a species. The first is a line, which starts at the muzzle and ends at the back of the head. As for the second, it is a triangle-shaped stain. that is between the eyes and the muzzle.

The third mark is the extension of the dark triangle towards the back of the eye, where it slopes towards the jaw. These patterns, together with the skin tone, offer the boa constrictor an effective camouflage to go unnoticed in the forests and jungles where it lives.

Eyes

This reptile lacks eyelids. In replacement of these, it has a transparent scale, which protects each eye. When molting occurs in this animal, a process known as ecdysis, this specialized scale is also shed.

Ear

The mazacuata does not have an outer ear, however, they do have an inner ear. This structure has the ability to detect sounds that are at a low frequency, between 100 and 700 Hertz. Likewise, the inner ear can capture sound waves that are transmitted through the ground.

Scales

The body of the boa constrictor is covered in scales. These are fundamentally constituted by keratin, which is derived from the epidermis. As it grows, this keratinized outer layer is shed and replaced by a new covering, which grows underneath.

The scales are joined by a soft and thin skin, which, between scale and scale, folds inward. When the boa eats, these folds spread out, thus expanding the area. In this way, the ingested food has space, in the slim body of the reptile.

In snakes there are two types of scales. The smaller ones, which can be superimposed or juxtaposed, are generally found on the sides and at the top. As for the ventral part, it has wide and short scales, known as shields. These contribute to the skillful dragging movements of the animal.

Teeth

The teeth of the mazacuata are hooked and small in size. This allows her a strong grip on her prey, while striking it. In addition, it prevents it from being released, while it is enveloped by the powerful body of the boa.

In the upper jaw it has four rows of teeth, while in the lower jaw there are two. This species lacks elongated tusks, but those in the anterior part of the jaws are the largest in the line.

The teeth are continually replaced. This process occurs in such a way that the snake never loses the ability to bite with any part of its teeth.

Breathing

--Boa constrictor nebulae a.

Habitat and distribution

Boa constrictor is an American species, which is distributed from Argentina to the northern region of Mexico. Each of the subspecies has a specific habitat, where it has the right conditions to develop.

- Subspecies

Boa constrictor amarali

It is located from the southeast and center of Brazil, in the Paraguayan Chaco, to Paraguay. In Argentina, it is to the northeast, in the province of Misiones.

In relation to Brazil, this reptile lives in Goiás and Mato Grosso, including Paraná and São Paulo. In the north of the country, it shares habitat with Boa constrictor constrictor, in the Amazon basin and in eastern Brazil.

Boa constrictor sabogae

The Pearl Boa, as this subspecies is known, is native to the Pearl Archipelago, in the Gulf of Panama. Thus, it lives in the islands of the King, Perlas, San José, Saboga, Taboguilla, Cha Mar, Taboga, among others.

-Boa constrictor constrictor

Its distribution includes the basins of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. Thus, he lives in the north of Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela and in French Guiana. Also, it lives in the south and center of Colombia, east of Peru and Ecuador, to the north of Bolivia. In Brazil, it ranges from the Amazon basin to the east and northeast of Brazil.

Boa constrictor ortonii

This subspecies of Boa constrictor is endemic to the northwestern territories of Peru, in Piura, Cajamarca, Piura, La Libertad and Lambayeque. In this way, it is located from the southern region of the province of Tumbes, to the mountainous areas of La Libertad.

Boa constrictor imperator

The common boa, as this subspecies is called, inhabits the subtropical and tropical ecosystems of Mexico, Central America and northern South America. This reptile can easily adapt to various environmental conditions. However, it prefers to live in the rain forests.

Boa constrictor orophias

This insular subspecies is endemic to the island of Santa Lucia, located in the Caribbean Sea. This island territory is located north of the Grenadines and Saint Vincent and south of the island of Martinique.

Longicauda boa constrictor

The Tumbes boa is endemic to the jungles of Tumbes, in northern Peru. Also, it lives in the southwestern part of Ecuador, where it is known as a coastal boa.

Boa constrictor occidentalis

This reptile lives from the Paraguayan Chaco to central and northern Argentina. In this country, it is found in the provinces of Chaco, Formosa, Santa Fe, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Jujuy, Catamarca, Tucumán and La Rioja. As well as in San Juan, Córdoba, Mendoza, La Pampa and in San Luis.

Mexican boa constrictor

This subspecies is known in Mexico as limacoa and in Costa Rica as Bécquer. Its habitat is the subtropical and tropical regions of Mexico, Central America and the north of the South American continent.

Nebulous boa constrictor

The clouded Boa constrictor or clouded boa is distributed on the island of Dominica. This is located in the Caribbean Sea, between the island of Martinique and the archipelago of Guadeloupe.

- Habitat

The mazacuata is adept at swimming, however, unlike other snakes, it does not swim frequently. Instead, it prefers to be on dry land, either in hollow logs or in abandoned burrows. Their habits are arboreal and terrestrial.

This reptile occupies a great diversity of habitats, from rainforests to desert regions. Thus, it is found in deserts, savannas, tropical forests, grasslands, scrublands and island territories.

However, it prefers the jungles due to several factors. These include the natural cover it offers from predators, temperature, humidity and the availability of prey. Humans have occupied a large part of the natural habitat of the Boa constrictor. This has forced the animal to adapt to cultivated and urban areas.

State of conservation

Boa constrictor is not on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, it is included in Appendix II of CITES. Within this group are species that, although not threatened with extinction, are at risk of being so.

This could happen if your marketing is not supervised and controlled. Thus, the international trade of Boa constrictor must be authorized by means of an export certificate.

For this award, it is necessary that certain standards are met, among which is the evaluation of the impact on the survival of this reptile in its natural habitat.

However, locally, some subspecies are threatened. In this sense, in the northern region of Santa Lucia Island, occupied by Boa c. orophias, there are serious erosion problems.

In addition, this subspecies is affected by the use of chemical products in agriculture, the generation of wastewater and the inadequate deposit of waste. This situation has caused that this reptile is locally in danger of becoming extinct.

Other threats

On the other hand, in general, the populations of the mazacuata are affected by their capture, to sell their meat and their skin. Also, they are marketed as pets, in private exhibitions. Likewise, many farmers use the Common Boa as a natural control against rodent infestations.

The species are subjected to their extermination, by the local inhabitants, as they are considered a danger to their lives. However, if the boa does not feel threatened, it does not attack the human being. I would only do it in self-defense and in this case, people are too large to be swallowed by this snake.

Reproduction

The Boa constrictor reaches sexual maturity between 2 and 4 years. Both the male and the female are polygamous, they can have several partners in the same reproductive period.

During the mating stage, the female produces pheromones, with the intention of attracting males. Regarding copulation, the male uses his pelvic spurs to support the female. He then wraps his tail around it, inserting one of his two hemipenis into the female's cloaca.

On the other hand, ovulation may not occur, however, the female retains spermatic fluid until the ovary releases the eggs. The boa constrictor is ovoviviparous, since the embryos develop internally, within the mother's body.

Mating and gestation

Mating usually occurs in the summer season, between April and August. The vast majority of boas do not reproduce annually. Furthermore, females in unsuitable physical condition are unlikely to attempt to reproduce.

As for gestation, it lasts between 100 and 120 days. When the eggs are ready to hatch, they push the cloaca and break the membrane that protects them, in which they are still wrapped. The size of the litter can vary between 10 and 65 young. However, some of these could be stillborn or unfertilized eggs. In the following video you can see how a couple of boas mate:

The babies

The young are born alive and measure around 51 centimeters. They are completely independent, showing that they have natural hunting and protection instincts, when facing predators.

During the first years, they have a rapid growth. During this time, they shed their skin regularly. Juveniles spend most of their time in trees. When these become heavy, they change their habits and become terrestrial. In the following video you can see the birth of two young:

Feeding

The Boa constrictor is a generalist carnivore. In the juvenile stage, it feeds mainly on lizards, small birds, mice, and frogs. Once it matures, its diet expands.

Thus, it eats monkeys, bats, possums, lizards, lizards, squirrels, rats, and birds. Also, they could eat large mammals, such as ocelots and wild pigs.

The hunt

This species adjusts its hunting behaviors according to the density of prey within its habitat. In the vast majority of cases, it is an ambush predator, patiently waiting for the animal to approach its burrow or where it is located.

However, in the event that food is scarce, the boa becomes active and goes out in search of its food. They generally hunt at night, such as when they go to the caves of bats, or to the branches where they are hung, and capture them.

The mazacuata is not poisonous. To kill its prey, it uses a very particular form of predation: constriction. For this, it grabs the animal with its teeth and then hits it against the rocks or the ground.

Subsequently, he rolls the prey with his body and squeezes it, until it causes death. Then swallow it whole. Their teeth help the prey down the throat, while the muscles move it to the stomach.

As for the digestive process, it can take between 4 and 6 days. This will depend on the environmental temperature of the habitat and the size of the dam.

Constriction

Previously it was believed that the boa constrictor subdued its prey by crushing it, breaking its bones or squeezing the lungs until they suffocated. In recent research, experts say that the strategy used by this animal is completely different.

Once the boa has the body of the prey wrapped with his, he squeezes it tightly. This causes the heart to lose the ability to pump blood. In this way, the prey remains unconscious, because the brain does not receive oxygenated blood and later dies. In the following video you can see how a boa swallows a dead piglet:

Behavior

This species has nocturnal habits, sheltering itself during the day in a burrow, where it rests. However, she usually spends several hours in the trees, sunbathing. During cold days, the boa constrictor can become almost inactive.

In addition, it is a solitary animal that interacts very little with its conspecifics. It only binds to the female, for the duration of the mating. This mouth attacks when it feels threatened. Its bite can be painful, but it is not fatal, because this reptile is not poisonous.

Like the vast majority of snakes, this boa depends on the vomeronasal organ. This is located in the upper part of the mouth. To pick up chemosensory stimuli, the animal sticks out its tongue and moves it continuously. Thus, the snake constantly perceives chemical signals from the environment.

Likewise, this reptile has good vision, even in the ultraviolet spectrum. In addition, it has the ability to capture the vibrations that animals produce when they move on the ground. This contributes to the location of their prey.

References

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2. Wikipedia (2019). Boa constrictor. Recovered from en.wikipedia.org.
3. ITIS (2019). Boa constrictor. Recovered from it is.gov
4. Doug Bennett (2016). How snakes evolved to lose their legs. Recovered from futurity.org.
5. Douglas Mader (2019). Snake Anatomy. Recovered from reptilesmagazine.com.
6. Lindemann, L. (2009). Boa constrictor. Animal Diversity Web. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
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