The boa constrictor can measure up to 5 meters in length
A boa is a snake native to the American continent. The term refers to a family of constrictor reptiles : they squeeze and compress their prey until they kill them.
Non-venomous snake
Boas are not poisonous and are characterized by the patterns they have on their skin . There are specimens that reach a length of about ten meters, standing out for their large size.
Beyond the differences between boa species , they all share the fact of being viviparous . This means that they give birth to their offspring when the fetuses reach an advanced stage of development.
Boas can have different habits . There are water boas , ground boas , and tree boas , for example.
boa constrictor
In the case of the species known as the boa constrictor (scientific name Boa constrictor ), a snake that belongs to the boidae family and the boino subfamily. It should be noted that there is currently no other species of the Boa genus. In some parts of the world it is known by other names: in Venezuela, tragavenado ; in Colombia, guio ; in Peru, mantona ; in Mexico, mazacuata , limacoa and ilama ; in Ecuador, matacaballo ; in South America, lampalagua and jiboia .
Since it can be found in many parts of the world, the boa constrictor has developed certain characteristic physical traits in each of them. For this reason, it is normal to distinguish eight subspecies, whose scientific names are amarali, constrictor, imperator, longicauda, melanogaster, nebulosa, occidentalis and orophias . At the same time, within the imperator subspecies we can recognize the following: eques, isthmica, mexicana, ortonii, sabogae and sigma . The constrictor is the largest, with a length that can exceed four meters.
The boa constrictor is solitary and has nocturnal habits: it usually stays in holes in trunks or hides in the branches of trees during the day and then, when the sun goes down, it goes hunting. It can feed on birds, rodents , bats and lizards, among other animals , which it ambushes by waiting for them in the treetops. Of course, it also swims skillfully and can move perfectly on the ground.
Its vision is not comparable to that of a mammal, but is much less effective because the boa constrictor uses the thermosensitivity of its scales to detect other animals. Some of the species it feeds on are opossums, squirrels, rats, bats and various types of birds. Bats are among her favorites, and she is able to catch them when they fly by her.
Conservation
Due to the exploitation of the boa constrictor and the alterations that our species produces in the soil, it is at risk. The trade in these animals is fueled by their popularity as exotic pets . And this leads to another problem in cities where it is not legal to have animals that are so large or that could pose a danger to the population. In any case, it is one more example of a species against which we attack due to our selfishness and lack of compassion.
The boa imperator is a subspecies of the constrictor.
Article of clothing
A female garment that has the appearance of a snake is also called a boa , on the other hand. It is usually made with feather or fur to decorate or protect the neck .
The boas, therefore, are placed around the neck . They can be monochromatic or display several colors.
Throughout history, the customs associated with the use of boas changed. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was a very popular accessory, worn by women of different social classes. Nowadays, however, the use of boas is usually limited to artists and is even linked to eroticism .