Common boa - a description where it dwells, features

Boa belongs to a group of reptiles that differ from venomous reptiles in the way of food extraction. As can be understood from the name of the individuals in question, boas do not cause damage by a bite. They seize the victim and deprive her of breath through a special capture. The relatives of these snakes, such as the anaconda and python, are received in a similar way. To date, there are about 60 species of individuals, but we will consider an ordinary boa.

Spread

1. Starting to study the characteristics, it is impossible not to affect the distribution and territorial habitat of these individuals. Their numbers are quite large, respectively, and the territory of the boas occupy decent. Most snakes in the Antilles, as well as in Central and South America.
2. As for the way of life, it directly depends on the zone in which snakes live.Some prefer to settle in humid climatic regions near rivers and streams. Others like mountainous terrain, dry scrublands and valleys.
3. Individuals who love tropical conditions live in arid places where it is hardly raining. Their fellows, on the contrary, choose forest areas, where it often rains. From all of the above, you can understand how diverse the habitat is.

Description

1. This species of reptiles is large. The females are larger than the males, all snakes in adulthood reach a length of about 5 m. The female gender is not as bright as the male representatives of the group.
2. Males are less dimensional, but at the same time saturated and refined in terms of color. Their head stands out against the general background due to its relief. In males there are sex spurs, they use them when the mating season begins.
3. By coloring the presented individuals are multifaceted, it all depends on the area of ​​habitat. If the boas live in captivity and are bred by crossing, it is difficult to say for sure what their final hull color will be.Because the crossing is carried out with the imperial and dog-headed snakes.
4. Also individuals not living in their natural environment are smaller in terms of dimensional features. They are often taken for breeding, to continue to receive new and new species. In the natural environment, such manipulations will never occur, because the species are scattered across different territories.

Differences

1. It has already been mentioned that male and female individuals are somewhat different from each other. However, it is impossible to say that the differences are colossal. So, for example, males are famous for their dense body in the middle. Their tail is also thick and strong, conical.
2. Females have a shortened and not so clear tail. There is no compaction in its base, the format is plain, flattened. As for the dimensions, female individuals look powerful and frightening, they are larger. The coloring of the females is dull, the males are saturated.

Lifestyle

1. It has already been mentioned that in terms of the biotope selection these snakes are very different. Some like to live on high slopes, up to 2 km. above sea level. Others like light forests, piedmont plots, as well as stony low mountain ranges.
2. Tropical species are looking for shrub areas with large vegetation or settle in a humid environment near rivers, tributaries, lakes, various water sources of other origin. Some bold specimens quietly exist on the outskirts of cities and settlements.
3. For these snakes, it is extremely important that there is fresh water nearby. Boas excellent crawlers, can easily climb to the highest tree. In some areas, it is there that they live. Others prefer to dwell on earth.
4. The hunt begins at dusk or early in the morning, when the sun is still not very hot. He prefers to spend the rest of the time in crevices, stony slopes, and other shelters to hide from all sorts of eyes. Boas love to swim and do it well, being in the water for a long time.

Nutrition

1. Some locals living in Central and South America purposely set up boas that allow reptiles to hunt rodents. We can say that snakes have it perfectly. The rest of the diet is varied.
2. In addition to rats and mice, boas overlap amphibians and birds, medium-sized animals, as well as small game. Daredevils get and strangle crocodiles, antelopes.The rest are hunting opossums, frogs, mongooses, lizards, birds and their chicks.
3. Often, the bakers, packs, agouti become the prey of the discussed species of reptiles. Some particularly sensitive snakes can catch a bat. When individuals are hungry, they swallow turtles.
4. It is not uncommon for reptiles to prey on animals approaching a water source. A dog, a chicken, a pig, a duck, etc. become prey. When a snake grabs a victim, it wraps around it and begins to break the bone apparatus. Because of this, if swallowed, the boa will not harm the esophagus.
5. As for the diet, it is often based on small rodents. This can be jerboas, hamsters, mice and gerbils. In addition, the boa feeds on small birds, such as sparrows and wagtails. This snake is not averse to eat lizards, dark-browed beasts and locusts.
6. When the boa goes hunting, he crawls into the holes to the rodents without any problems. The latter become a victim and cannot escape from it. The boa grabs the prey with his teeth and kills him by squeezing his powerful body.
7. Boas living in the wild in the Amazon are able to swallow very large prey. Giant individuals can hunt prey weighing up to 60 kg.Most often it is antelope, small deer and wild boar. Boas can hunt juveniles and larger animals.
8. The individuals in question differ from other reptiles in that they often hunt in near darkness. Boas have special receptors that are located between the eyes and nostrils. They are especially sensitive to heat. Thanks to this feature, snakes are able to notice prey even at a distance.

Breeding

1. The represented individuals reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 to 5 years. The mating period depends largely on the habitat of the reptiles and the species to which they belong. The surprising fact is that the boas can be pregnant for 5 to 10 months.
2. During the mating season, these snakes practically do not feed. In addition, at such a time, several agitated males are constantly around one female. The last with each other arrange peculiar fights. They bite and jostle to win the female.
3. After one winner remains, he continues to care for the female throughout the day.The male begins to rub on her and tingles her a little with his claws, which are located near the anus. As for mating, this process takes place on the ground or a tree. This may depend on the species of boas.
4. Virtually all reptiles of this species are egg-feeding. In another way, it can be explained that the snakes simultaneously show signs of live birth and egg production. At the time of pregnancy, the female eggs develop inside the body. However, she is in no hurry to postpone them. For example, pythons are carrying eggs in their womb.
5. At this time, the embryos feed on the necessary substances that are present in the egg yolk. This suggests that such a process is in no way connected with the metabolism of the mother. Over time, the young hatch from eggs, while still in the womb. As a result, the young are born full-fledged little snakes. After 4 days, the umbilical cord disappears.
6. In addition, there is a species of boas that lay eggs. Depending on the species, reptiles can bring cubs from 2 to 60 pcs. At the same time, their body length is about 45 cm. Almost immediately after birth, the young growth begins to lead an independent life. For the first time they grow rapidly.

The boas are one of the most common and popular reptiles that people plant as pets. These are relatively safe snakes, if you know how to handle and educate them. Therefore, if you are going to start such an animal, be sure to prepare for it.

Video: Boa constrictor