Reptiles · Squamata · Boidae

Red-tailed Boa

Boa constrictor

Not Evaluated

It has not yet been assessed against the IUCN criteria. See full glossary

In 2010 this species produced the first known case of parthenogenesis in boas: a female with no contact with any male produced young genetically identical to herself.

Weight

up to 45 kg

Size

1.8 m – 4 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

SavannaRainforestCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Reptile Savanna Rainforest

43countries 19parks11same family

Fun facts

It kills by constriction, feeding on small and medium-sized mammals, birds and lizards.
It has vestigial pelvic spurs, evolutionary remnants of its lizard ancestors' hind legs.
It is ovoviviparous: the young are born live and completely independent, measuring 38 to 60 cm.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: A wide range of habitats across Central and South America: rainforest, savanna and dry woodland
Birth weight: 38 - 60 cm long at birth (ovoviviparous, born live)
Size at birth: 38 - 60 cm long at birth, completely independent from the start
Sexual maturity: 3-5 years
Gestation / incubation: 100-120 days (some sources give a wider range of 5-8 months)
Litter / clutch size: 10 to 65 young per litter (average 25)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 40 years and 4 months in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Dash Hrecos; Animalia.bio; A-Z Animals; Discover Wildlife; Animals.net; Animal Diversity Web; SeaWorld/Busch Gardens; Wikipedia (Boa constrictor occidentalis)