The Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria) is a non-venomous colubrid reptile in the Boidae family of boa constrictor snakes. It is a boid, pronounced bo-id. It is also known as the Slender Boa.
The Brazilian Rainbow Boa is orange-red with black circles on its back and sides. Its scales have an iridescent sheen. It has a thick, heavy body.
It measures 91-152 centimetres (36-60 inches) long.
The Brazilian Rainbow Boa is native to Central America and South America. It is semi-arboreal, living partly in trees and partly on the ground. It is nocturnal, active at night.
It prefers humid rainforests and woodlands, but it can also be found in open savannahs. It likes to hide under rocks or in caves.
It eats birds, reptiles, frogs, and mammals. It kills its prey through constriction – squeezing its prey to death.It lies in wait for its prey to come close to it, then it attacks.
The Brazilian Rainbow Boa is solitary.
It 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: Parc Zoologique de Paris in Bois de Vincennes, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM