They are advertised as being safe and low maintenance. Neighbors told Action News that Senseman had been seen with the snake before, occasionally holding it in his front yard.Ĭonstrictor snakes are popular exotic pets. The snake started to slither away from the victims neck after it was shot. Giant Horny Pythons Filmed Fighting for Sex in Front Yard.Girl, 5, Dies From Snake Bite at Property Where 40 Serpents Were Being Kept.Black Mamba Captured From Storm Drain Under Family Home."I think one of the officer's described it as a scene from a horror movie, and that's probably the most appropriate way to describe it." It was a safe shoot," he told the news outlet. "They realized it was a matter of life and death with seconds to make that decision. The snakes are frequently bred in captivity and can grow up to 18 feet, however this is rare.įollowing the attack, Peter Nickischer at the Upper Macungie Township Police Department told WPVI that the snake's midsection had been wrapped around the man's throat, while the head was "just far enough away" to make a "split second decision." With each breath the victim takes, the snake squeezes more and more tightly, until it dies. The snakes tend to catch their prey in their jaws, before throwing coils around them and squeezing tightly. They kill their prey by suffocation and cutting off their blood supply. Lunatic_67/Gettyīoa constrictors are a large non-venomous snake species. Publications, Inc., 1986.A stock photo shows a boa constrictor. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1987. New York: Facts on File Publications, Inc., 1986. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1994.Įrnst, Carl H., and Zug, George R. Boas are very important in controlling rodent populations which, when in excess, can have a seriously negative impact on the environment.īauchot, Roland (ed.). Probably their biggest threats are the ever-increasing human populations and the loss of prime habitat. They have long been popular as pets because of their large size and relatively calm demeanor. These snakes are not farmed for their skins, and collecting them from the wild has caused population declines.īoas are also consumed by indigenous people and collected for the pet trade. Boas are nocturnal hunters - they rely on heat-sensing abilities to hunt in the dark.īoas, like many other large snakes, are killed for their skins, which are highly prized in the leather trade. Boas have special heat-sensing pits on their faces that allow them to detect the body heat of their prey.Like all snakes, boas are excellent swimmers, but they usually avoid going into the water as much as possible.These vestigial limbs appear as spurs on either side of the cloaca. Boas are considered primitive snakes, differing from other species by having two vestigial (remnant) hind limbs.In addition, several other species are listed.
USFWS: In the United States, 1 subspecies listed as threatened and 2 subspecies as endangered. Population Global: No data Status IUCN: Not listedĬITES: Appendix II one subspecies listed as Appendix I Habitat They inhabit dry tropical forests and open areas. Range Boa constrictors are native to Central and South America. The longest-lived boa ever recorded was 40 years, 4 months. In general, boa constrictors can live 35 or more years. Sexual Maturity 2-3 years Life Span Along with ball pythons, boas are believed to be some of the longest-lived of all snakes. The young hatch from the eggs, then the mother gives birth to the live young. Size Adults range in size from 2.4-3 m (8-10 ft.) some boas can exceed 3.6 m (12 ft.), but lengths of over 11 feet are extremely rare newborn boas measure about 60 cm (24 in.) Weight Adult boas weigh approximately 27 kg (60 lb.) Diet Variety of birds and mammals Incubation 8-12 weeks Females are ovoviviparous - the young develop in eggs that the female retains inside her body. Their body markings consist of beige blotches on a dark brown background. Scientific Classification Common Name Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family Boidae Genus Species Boa (type of snake) constrictor (to grasp)įast Facts Description The boa constrictor is a large, heavy-bodied snake.
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