boa snake
Deserts

Boas

About

Boas are a large family of snakes that come in different sizes, patterns and lifestyles on most continents around the world except Australia and Antarctica. The largest boa is the green anaconda from South America. Most boas have heat-sensing pits on their head, which are used to find prey. They are nonvenomous and usually are constrictors, which means they wrap their body around their prey—a small animal—and tighten their muscles, which suffocates the prey so it can be swallowed whole.

Most boas live in trees or on land and give birth to live young, though a few lay eggs. Some male boas compete for females by wrestling with one another until the strongest snake wins or the female makes her choice.

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Size
Up to 20 feet long and 500 pounds in weight, depending on the species
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Live in
All continents except Australia and Antarctica
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Food
Small or medium-sized animals
Conservation Status IUCN Icon
IUCN Red List Status
Varies depending on the species
Brazilian rainbow boa

Conservation

Many snakes are threatened with extinction because they were overhunted by people or from habitat loss. Snakes play important roles in ecosystems by keeping rodent populations under control. Be aware of snakes in your local area and give them their space in the wild. Always do your research before adopting a snake as a pet to be sure you can meet its needs for its whole life.

WHERE ARE THEY AT THE ZOO?

cropped zoo map showing chimpanzee location