Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by EncycloPetey (talk | contribs) at 05:23, 31 January 2006 (cat sort). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Template:Taxobox begin Template:Taxobox image Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox phylum entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox subordo entry Template:Taxobox familia entry Template:Taxobox genus entry
Linnaeus, 1758 Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox section subdivision 4 species; see text. Template:Taxobox end

Boa is a genus of snakes in the family Boidae. The four species in the genus are commonly known as "boa constrictors" after the first species of the genus to be described, the Red-tailed Boa, Boa constrictor. (To add further to the naming confusion, many species of snake in Boidae are known as "boas" and all are constrictors — that is, they kill their prey by constriction.)

Snakes of this genus are very common in Latin America, and perhaps the most sought after as pets. They can grow up to 5 metres and feed on birds and small mammals.

The Red-tailed Boa, Boa constrictor is the most widely known species of this genus. It is also the largest member of its family, with the largest recorded specimen being over 18 feet (5.5 m) long (though this is thought by some to possibly be a misidentification of species, see Red-tailed Boa). It has an interesting pattern of brown and black with a red tail (see picture). It does well in captivity and tames easily and is a common sight in zoos and homes.

Species

• Red-tailed Boa, Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758
• Duméril's Boa, Boa dumerili (Jan in Jan and Sordelli, 1860)
• Madagascar Ground Boa, Boa madagascariensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1844) = Acrantophis madagascariensis
• Madagascar Tree Boa, Boa manditra Kluge, 1991 = Sanzinia madagascariensis (Duméril & Bibron, 1844)

This snake article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e

• Snake stubs
• Pet reptiles
• Boas