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Distribution and Habitat: Boa Constrictor

Boa is a monotypic genus represented by the species Boa constrictor, a non-venomous snake found throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America north of 35°S. It can grow up to 14 feet in length and numerous subspecies are currently recognized. While previously other genera were included in Boa based on morphology, it is now recognized that Boa constrictor does not form a monophyletic group with them and they belong in their own genera.

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62 views1 page

Distribution and Habitat: Boa Constrictor

Boa is a monotypic genus represented by the species Boa constrictor, a non-venomous snake found throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America north of 35°S. It can grow up to 14 feet in length and numerous subspecies are currently recognized. While previously other genera were included in Boa based on morphology, it is now recognized that Boa constrictor does not form a monophyletic group with them and they belong in their own genera.

Uploaded by

Alexandra Stefan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Boa is a genus of non-venomous boas found in Mexico, Central and South America.

One species is
currently recognized.[1]Common names include: boa[1] and boa constrictor.[2]
Boa is a monotypic genus, represented by the species Boa constrictor. This snake has been reported to
grow to a maximum of 14 feet (4.3 m) in length.[3] Numerous subspecies are currently recognised.

Distribution and habitat[edit]


Northern Mexico through Central America (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa
Rica and Panama) to South America north of 35S
(Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French
Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay and Argentina. Also in the Lesser Antilles (Dominica and St. Lucia), on San
Andrs, Providencia and many other islands along the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America. [4]

Taxonomy[edit]
Kluge (1991) moved the genera Sanzinia and Acrantophis into Boa, based on a phylogeny derived from
morphological characters.[5] However, it has since been shown that the Malagasy boids and Boa
constrictor do not form a monophyletic group, and the lumping of Sanzinia, Acrantophis and Boa was,
therefore, an error. These snakes are therefore correctly represented in their own
genera: Sanzinia and Acrantophis.[2][6][7]
To add further to the naming confusion, many species of snake in the family Boidae are known colloquially
as "boas" and all are constrictors. Also, more than a few subspecies of B. constrictor are recognized,
several of which have distinct common names.[2]

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