The Amazon Tree Boa (Corallus hortulanus) is a reptile in the Boidae family of non-venomous, colubrid, boa constrictor snakes. It is a boid (pronounced bo-id). It is also known as the Garden Tree Boa or the Macabrel.
The Amazon Tree Boa is long and slim. It varies in base colour from black, brown, grey, red, and orange to yellow. Its patterns can be banded, speckled, rhomboid shapes, or completely plain with no patterns or markings. It has a distinct head and it has dark, rounded eyes. It has sharp, long, needle-like teeth.
It measures 150-200 centimetres (60-78 inches) in length. It is lighter in weight than other boa constrictors and pythons.
It is native to South America in countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Amazonian Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
The Amazon Tree Boa is arboreal, living in trees.
It is mainly 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 Amazon Tree Boa is solitary.
The Amazon Tree 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: Paris Zoo, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM