Amazon Tree Boa

Corallus hortulana

Status: Unknown

Size:  20-74 inches

Habitat: Lowland Rainforest

At the Zoo: Reptile House

Unlike its larger cousin the boa constrictor, the tree boa is very aggressive.   No one knows exactly why some snakes are more aggressive than others, but it is something to keep in mind if you are interested in handling any snake.   When I was attending college, I took care of a collection of about 20 species of snakes for the biology department. Soon I decided to keep a few snakes as pets and my first snake was a easily handled boa constrictor.  One day I saw in a magazine an advertisement for different kinds of snakes so I ordered a tree boa by mail order.  As soon as I opened the package it came in within seconds the snake bit me.   The shape of the snake’s head concerned me even more since I had heard that most venomous snakes had triangular shaped heads.  I now know that that is not an accurate statement since it may apply in some places, but not all places.

The Amazon tree boa is found in South America in southern Colombia east of the Andes, southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Amazonian Brazil, Costa Rica Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.  It spends most of its time hunting for prey in trees including tree frogs, lizards and small mammals.  It has a prehensile tail helping it climb through the trees and hunt with ease. It will also hunt on the ground, but spends most of its time in trees and is commonly seen near rivers.

Here in our area most of our native snakes are ground dwellers, but almost any snake in search of prey will climb into vegetation.

Rick LoBello, Education Curator

Photos

Cover – Charles Peterson, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Top – Thomas Stromberg, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Middle – Joe Richmond, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Bottom – Allan Hopkins, Wikimedia Creative Commons