Boa Constrictor Predatorsīoa constrictors may be big and fierce, but they’re not at the top of the food chain. After eating, a boa constrictor will not need to eat again for several weeks, even months. Large items of food can be seen as bulges in the snake’s belly. It can take several (4-6) days for a meal to be fully digested. Larger boa constrictors may even take monkeys and deer. The bigger the snake, the bigger the prey it will attempt to catch. They can snatch birds and bats as they fly past. What Do Boa Constrictors Eat?īoa constrictors eat a wide range of prey, including birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. If prey is scarce, boas will also hunt for food rather than lying in wait, using their heat sensitive scales to locate their prey. The video below shows the constriction process. The boa’s mouth can open very wide allowing it to consume even fairly large animals. The snake constricts its victim until it has stopped breathing, then swallows it whole. Before it is swallowed, the prey doesn’t look noticeably damaged. The boa suffocates its victim rather than crushing it. They lie in wait for their victims to approach, then quickly strike, holding onto the prey with their fangs while wrapping their powerful bodies around the victim’s body.īoa constrictors do not ‘crush the prey to death’. How Do Boa Constrictors Catch Their Prey?īoa constrictors are ambush predators. Boa constrictors also climb trees, particularly when young. However, unlike green anacondas, boa constrictors spend most of their time on land. Can Boa Constrictors Swim?īoa constrictors are excellent swimmers, and are often found near streams and rivers. These offer the snakes protection from predators.īoa constrictors will happily live in close proximity to human settlements. Rainforests offer a particularly suitable habitat, being the right temperature and humidity, and also offering a large amount of food.īoa constrictors have been known to live in the abandoned burrows of medium-sized mammals.
Boa Constrictor Facts: Boa Constrictor Habitatīoa constrictors can live in a wide range of habitats, including farmland, deserts and savannah. Where Do Boa Constrictors Live?īoa constrictors are found all over South and Central America, in countries such as: Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Belize, Suriname, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay and Argentina.īoa constrictors are also found in Mexico. The frequency at which they shed their skins roughly halves. They continue to grow once they have reached maturity, but at a slower rate.
#Anaconda vs boa constrictor skin#
The video below features Steve Irwin with an angry boa constrictor!īoa constrictors grow quickly, and shed their skin at regular intervals (every 1-2 months). However, if food is sparse, boa constrictors may not reach these sizes. If food is plentiful, they can grow even larger. The size that boa constrictors grow to depends on the availability of food. They may not be the biggest snakes in the rainforest, but they’re certainly not small! Boa constrictors considerably larger than this have been found. How Big Are Boa Constrictors?įemale boa constrictors grow to around 10 feet (3 metres) in length, while males are smaller, growing to around 8 feet (2.5 metres).įemale boa constrictors weigh between 10 to 15 kg (22 to 33 lb) on average, with males weighing proportionally less. Green Anacondas-the biggest rainforest snakes-are close relations of boa constrictors. King Of The Jungle?īoa constrictors are large, heavy snakes, but they are not the biggest rainforest snakes: green anacondas are significantly larger. The boa constrictor’s patterned skin provides excellent camouflage.
There are currently 10 recognised subspecies of boa constrictor (but not all scientists agree that all of these are actually subspecies).īoa constrictors live and hunt alone, and are mostly nocturnal. They dispatch their prey by constricting it (squeezing it so that it can no longer breathe), before swallowing it whole. Their green / brown colouration and varied markings provide excellent camouflage.īoa constrictors are not venomous. This family of medium-to-large snakes is also known simply as the ‘boa’ family.īoa constrictors have big, powerful bodies. You can find out more about reptiles here: Reptiles: The Ultimate GuideĬlick to see more animals in the Active Wild Online Zoo Boa Constrictor Informationīoa constrictors are members of the Boidae family.
#Anaconda vs boa constrictor series#
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