Boa constrictor | Description, Size, Subspecies, & Facts (2024)

boa constrictor, (Boa constrictor), large thick-bodied snake of the boa family, Boidae. Its range is wide, from Argentina to northern Mexico. Though it thrives in tropical rainforests, it also inhabits savannas, cane fields, and semiarid scrublands. The snake’s adult length is typically about 10 feet (3 metres), though individuals of more than 18 feet (5.5 metres) have been reported; Central American boas rarely exceed 8 feet (2.4 metres). The number of boa constrictor subspecies is disputed, ranging from 6 to 11.

The head of the boa constrictor is long and triangular, with dark streaks from the eyes to the back of the jaw and another dark streak along the top. The basic coloration is deep brown-and-black markings—often in the shape of triangles, ovals, and joined ovals—against a pale brown-and-gray background. However, colours and markings frequently vary, not only among the subspecies but also among individuals in the same population. In Boa constrictor ortonii, native to Peru, markings on the tail are red rather than brown, and the tail pattern is distinct. The Argentine boa constrictor (Boa constrictor occidentalis) is silvery gray with an unusual network pattern.

The boa constrictor is active from dusk to dawn, feeding on a wide variety of birds and mammals. It is mostly terrestrial but climbs into trees in search of birds. In daytime it shelters in tree hollows, old logs, and animal burrows. It kills by constriction, first grasping the prey and then using its coils to exert a deadly amount of pressure. Slow moving and of a mild temperament, it is easily tamed. Farmers keep the snake around their fields and storage sheds to reduce the rodent populations. The red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor constrictor) is a popular exotic pet.

Boa constrictors bear live young about 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.6 metre) long. Each litter numbers from one to several dozen young.