Imported boas are commonly encountered in the pet trade, and occasionally seen at weekend reptile shows.īoa constrictors have their own following of dedicated keepers and breeders who work with nothing else. Wild-bred-captive-born babies also are exported to the U.S., some from Central America and many thousands from northern Colombia. from several Central American countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. There at the southern extreme of the range, it intergrades with the Tumbes boa, Boa constrictor longicauda and Peruvian coastal boa, Boa constrictor ortonii.Īvailability: Wild-caught animals are still collected and exported to the U.S. From eastern Panama the range extends north into Colombia to the Sierra de Santa Marta, and south through coastal Colombia into Ecuador, south as far as Guayaquil. It is widespread and common in every country in Central America.

The species is widespread through the lower elevations of tropical southern Mexico. The maximum size of this form purportedly approaches 12 feet in total length, but the biggest we have seen were 9-10 feet long.ĭistribution: This widespread boa constrictor subspecies occurs on the west coast of Mexico as far north as Hermosillo, Sonora, and on the east coast north to southern Tamaulipas. collections average about 4½-8 feet in total length. Large specimens attain considerable bulk and may weigh 40-50 pounds. The head is very distinct from the neck the body is laterally compressed the tail is long and strongly prehensile.

Size: This is a relatively slender elongate snake. The common boa has an extensive distribution in nature and many geographic names have come to be used to refer to this subspecies, including Mexican boa, Sonoran desert boa, Yucatan boa, Central American boa, El Salvador boa, Nicaraguan boa, Panamanian boa, Honduran boa, Hog Island boa, Corn Island boa, and Colombian boa. In fact many common boa constrictors do have a red tail, distinctly different in color than the rest of the body however, the common name of 'red-tailed boa' is also commonly applied to the South American boa constrictor, Boa constrictor constrictor, which typically has an even redder tail. There are in use a variety of different names all referring to this subspecies, including simply 'boa constrictor.' This form of boa may be referred to as the pet store boa constrictor, redtail boa, Colombian redtail boa, pet store redtail, and red-tailed boa constrictor. Other common names: This is the boa subspecies most often encountered in captivity. Scientific name: Boa constrictor imperator

Common boa constrictor species