The Columbian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates maurus) is a non-venomous colubrid snake, a reptile in the Boidae family of boa constrictors. It is a boid, pronounced bo-id.
The Columbian Rainbow Boa is usually brown with dark-brown rings and S-shaped patterns. It changes its colour from day-time to night-time – from lighter to darker. It has a thick, heavy body.
It measures 91-152 centimetres (36-60 inches) long.
The Columbian Rainbow Boa is native to the Amazon region of South America. It is semi-arboreal, because it only spends some of its time in trees. It is mainly terrestrial, living on the ground.
It is nocturnal, active at night.
It kills its prey through constriction – squeezing its prey to death.It feeds on mice, rats, birds, bats, lizards, frogs, and toads. It lies in wait for its prey to come close to it, then it attacks.
The Columbian Rainbow Boa is solitary.
The Boa Constrictor is viviparous. The female gives birth to live young. She is pregnant for 100-120 days, before giving birth to 10-65 young, called snakelets. The snakelets are independent from birth.
Location of photographs: Tbilisi Zoo, Georgia
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM