Animals
|
Boa Constrictors
Although constrictors are non-venomous, they still have sharp and powerful teeth which they use to seized hold of their prey before wrapping themselves around it and squeezing until it can no longer breathe. This squeezing (also called constriction) of their prey is how the boa constrictor got its name. Boas can grow very large, up to 4 metres long, but rarely pose any danger to humans – except for the possibility of receiving a painful bite if you mishandle one. However, the related anaconda, which grows to 9 metres, has occasionally been reported attacking and eating humans. Boas usually live in the trees, and eat a diet of rodents, birds, and iguanas. In some places it is considered good to keep a boa constrictor around the house to keep it free from rats and other pests. Like most other snakes, boas have specially adapted jaws which enable them to swallow other animals wider than themselves. Unlike most other reptiles, boas (and other members of the same family, called boides) don't lay eggs. The eggs are kept incubated within the female snake's body. These may all hatch at the same time, with a female boa giving birth to up to 50 small snakes at once.
|
The Amazon Adventure is supported by:
Boa constrictors are large non-venomous snakes which are common in Central and
South America, with similar species also living in Africa, Madagascar, Australia, and
Asia.
Boas are
sometimes kept as exotic pets. At Indian and Caboclo villages near Manaus, I met several
people with pet boas. Handling a snake is an unusual experience because people normally
imagine snakes to be cold and slithery – but they are actually warm with smooth soft
skin. They aren't unpleasant like most people think they are. These pet boas were quite
docile and were used to being handled by people – however their fangs had usually
been removed to prevent them from inflicting any painful bites on anyone. Boas are also
available in pet shops in the United States and Europe.