Mark O'Shea's new softback edition
Venomous Snakes of the World. Also his Dangerous Snakes of Papua New Guinea stamp issue
and all his other books on the new 'O'Shea's Herp Shop'
DK
Mark O'Shea's new softback edition
Venomous Snakes of the World. Also his Dangerous Snakes of Papua New Guinea stamp issue
and all his other books on the new 'O'Shea's Herp Shop'
DK Handbook to Reptiles and Amphibians. Visit the
'O'Shea's Herp Shop'
COMMON BOA Boa constrictor
The common boa is a widespread and easily recognised species from northern South America, east of the Andes. Its subspecies in Central America and Argentina-Paraguay are now elevated to specific status.
Common boas grow to a maximum length of 4.8m, much smaller than their aquatic relative, the green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), and they feed on small mammals to the size of agouti but they may also take large lizards such as green iguanas (Iguana iguana).
South America (Venezuela and the Guianas to southern Brazil).
click on the images to enlarge them
Habitat: Tropical rainforest, woodland or savanna, even desert fringes
Typical head markings of the common boa
A common boa from Ilha Caviana, an island in the mouth of the Brazilian Amazon
An aggressive common boa from the Llanos of Venezuela