The boa constrictor is unique in the animal kingdom. Its common English name is the same as its scientific name. Also called the red-tailed boa, the boa constrictor is a species of large, heavy-bodied snake found in the Western Hemisphere, throughout Central and South America and a few southerly locations in North America. All of its subspecies are also referred to as boa constrictors.
The only other animal with the same common and scientific name: the extinct Tyrannosaurus rex.
Life and times of a boa constrictor :
- Boas are one of the few snakes that have live births, as opposed to laying eggs. Newborn boas weigh about 2 ounces (56.7 g) and range in length from 14 to 22 inches (35.6 to 55.9 cm).
- Boa constrictors are among the longest-lived snake species in the world. A boa can live for 30 years or more.
- In the wild, the boa constrictor enjoys a diet of rodents and large lizards.
