The boa constrictor is a large snake species in the family Boidae. It, along with the pythons, are the best known large constrictor (meaning non-venomous) snakes to North Americans and Europeans. While they grow to be quite large and heavy bodied, neonates hatch between 12 to 24 inches. The grow rapidly to a total length of 5 to 10 feet, with some exceptional individuals exceeding 14 feet. They are rodent specialists, but will also eat birds and small lizards when young.
There are a number of subspecies of boa constrictors (Boa constrictor, and they have remarkably different colouration and natural history. The recognized subspecies (with their specific ranges) are:
- B. c. amarali
- B. c. constrictor -- Brazil, Surinam, Tridinad, Peru, Guyana, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia
- B. c. imperator -- Mexico, Belize, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua
- B. c. longicauda -- Northern Peru
- B. c. melanogaster -- Ecuador
- B. c. nebulosus -- Lesser Antilles
- B. c. occidentalis -- Argentina, Paraguay
- B. c. orophias -- Lesser Antilles
- B. c. ortonii -- Peru
- B. c. sabogae -- Panama