Boa constrictor imperator
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Boidae
  • General
  • Distribution
  • Impact
  • Management
  • Bibliography
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  • Boa constrictor eating (Photo: Baumpython, www.commons.wikimedia.org)
  • Boa constrictor (Photo: Tod Baker, www.commons.wikimedia.org)
  • Boa constrictor head (Photo: Leofleck, www.commons.wikimedia.org)
  • Red Tail Boa (Photo: Gnangarra, www.commons.wikimedia.org)
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Common name
common boa constrictor (English, Puerto Rico), common northern boa (English), central American boa (English), Colombian boa (English), Colombian redtail boa (English), boa (Spanish), boa constrictora (Spanish), boa colombiana (Spanish)
Synonym
Boa constrictor imperator , Daudin, 1803
Boa imperator , Daudin, 1803
Boa eques , Eydoux & Souleyet, 1842
Boa imperator , Dumeril & Bibron, 1844
Boa eques , Dumeril & Bibron, 1844
Boa constrictor ithsmica , Garman, 1883
Boa diviniloquax mexicana , Jan, 1863
Boa imperator , Boulenger, 1893
Boa mexicana , Boulenger, 1893
Boa constrictor imperator , Forcart, 1951
Boa constrictor imperator , Stimson, 1969
Constrictor constrictor imperator , Ihering, 1911
Constrictor constrictor sigma , Smith, 1943
Similar species
Boa constrictor amarali, Boa constrictor constrictor, Boa constrictor longicauda, Boa constrictor melanogaster, Boa constrictor mexicana, Boa constrictor nebulosa, Boa constrictor occidentalis, Boa constrictor orophias, Boa constrictor ortonii, Boa constrictor sabogae
Summary
The common Boa constrictor imperator is a top nocturnal predator that kills its prey by constriction. Although it prefers small mammals such as rodents and bats, it also eats birds, amphibians, lizards, iguanas, and other snakes. It may thrive in forested areas, savannahs, cultivated sites, and suburbs. It exhibits both terrestrial and arboreal habits. It may enter caves to catch bats on flight. This species represents a threat to humans, particularly small children. It may affect agricultural activities. For example, causing damage to chicken farms. It threatens native species of amphibians, birds, lizards, snakes, and bats. It may even outcompete the two native boa species: the Puerto Rican boa Epicrates inornatus and the Mona Island boa Epicrates monensis, which are smaller in size than the common boa constrictor.
Species Description
While neonates range from 18-22 inches long, adult Boa may measure more than 30 feet. Adult females are larger than adult males. Boa constrictor imperator is ranked as one of the largest species of snake in the world due to its maximum growth potential being between 4 and 5 meters in length. Naturally, they show a characteristic pattern of some 30 brown or reddish dorsal patches or \"saddles\" on a lighter background, although the pet industry have developed a variety of \"morphs\" with a number of different colorations and patterns, including albinos. Some individuals have prominent dark markings on the tail. This subspecies also includes a number of isolated dwarf populations which are also being exploited by the pet trade. They differ in appearance depending on whether they live on mainland or island. Island boas tend to have longer, more narrow heads occupying large eyes. In addition, island males have considerably longer tails than those of the mainland boas (Boback, 2005; Quick et al, 2005).
Notes
It is a CITES Appendix II species.
Lifecycle Stages
Most specimens in captivity live about 10 years, but 40-year old specimens have been recorded. Males reach sexual maturity at their third month of age, but females must reach three years before they can breed succesfully. Being ovoviviparous, they produce 20-50 live hatchlings after a 110-150 days gestation period (Reed, 2005).
Uses
The international pet trade has turned the common boa constrictor, including its dwarf varieties, into a valuable merchandise. It has developed various morphs with different colors and patterns which are assigned high prices. In its native range it is sometimes collected to make folk medicines (Reed, 2005).
Habitat Description
Various populations of this subspecies occupy a wide variety of habitats: desert, tropical forest, savannah, and small tropical islands, both continental and oceanic, from sea level to moderate elevations. Human presence have forced them to adapt to live in cultivated sites, and even in suburbs. They exhibit both terrestrial and arboreal habits, and they enter and establish themselves in caves in pursuit of bats (Romero-Najera et al, 2007; Quick et al, 2005; Garza, 1995-2008).
Reproduction
Sexual and ovoviviparous. Females can breed at their third year of age, and then can produce 20-50 live hatchlings after a 110-150 days gestation period. The maximum litter size is recorded as being 60 hatchlings after one gestation period. Neonates lead independent lives from birth (Reed, 2005; Areste & Cebrian, 2003).
Nutrition
Boa constrictor imperator is strictly a carnivore, however, the range of fauna consumed is diverse. Diet includes birds, bats, reptiles, and mammals ranging in size depending on the size of the B. constrictor imperator (Quick et al, 2005; Reed, 2005).
Pathway
Boa constrictor imperator is frequently introduced by domestic trade as they are extremely common exotic pets. During the years 1989 through 2000, 115,131 Boa constrictor individuals were recorded as imported into the United States (Reed, 20

Principal source: The Reptile Database, 2007. Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758 . JCVI
; Reed, Robert N., 2005. An Ecological Risk Assessment of Nonnative Boas and Pythons as Potentially Invasive Species in the United States. Risk Analysis, Vol. 25, No. 3, 2005;
Quick, John, S; Howard K. Reinert; Eric R. De Cuba & R. Andrew Odum., 2005. Recent Occurrence and Dietary Habits of Boa constrictor on Aruba, Dutch West Indies. Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 304–307, 2005;
Martinez-Morales, Miguel Angel & Alfredo D. Cuaron., 1999. Boa constrictor, an introduced predator threatening the endemic fauna on Cozumel Island, Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation 8: 957–963, 1999.

Compiler: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), Felix A. Grana Raffucci, Technical Advisor, \r\r\nPuerto Rico Department of Natural & Environmental Resources & IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)

Review: Expert review underway: Alfredo D. Cuarón PhD President SACBÉ - Servicios Ambientales, Conservación Biológica y Educación Mexico

Publication date: 2010-05-26

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Boa constrictor imperator. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1439 on 24-11-2024.

General Impacts
Common boas are considered a threat to endemic vertebrates and carnivores that can be consumed once Boa constrictor imperator reaches adult size. It its feared that they may outcompete the smaller natives boas: the 'Near Threatened (NT)' Puerto Rican boa (see Epicrates inornatus in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), the Mona Island boa Epicrates monensis monensis and the Virgin Island tree boa Epicrates monensis granti.
Boas are also a threat to humans, specifically to small children, pets and small farm animals.
The increase in world trade of reptiles in the past 10 years could pose problems due to the ticks that many of them carry, which could pass diseases to domesticated livestock populations (Burridge & Simmons, 2003; Cuaron et al, 2004).
Management Info
Preventative measures: Risk Assessment models for assessing the risk that exotic vertebrates could establish in Australia have been further explored by the Western Australia Department of Agriculture & Food (DAFWA) to confirm that they reasonably predict public safety, establishment and pest risks across a full range of exotic species and risk levels.
The Risk assessment for the Boa (Boa constrictor), has been assigned a VPC Threat Category of EXTREME.
Mammals and birds were assessed for the pest risk they pose if introduced to Australia, by calculating Vertebrate Pests Committee (VPC) Threat Categories. These categories incorporate risk of establishing populations in the wild, risk of causing public harm, and risk of becoming a pest (eg causing agricultural damage, competing with native fauna, etc). The 7-factor Australian Bird and Mammal Model was used for these assessments.
Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Boa constrictor imperator
ALIEN RANGE
NATIVE RANGE
  • argentina
  • belize
  • bolivia
  • brazil
  • colombia
  • costa rica
  • ecuador
  • el salvador
  • french guiana
  • guatemala
  • guyana
  • honduras
  • mexico
  • nicaragua
  • panama
  • paraguay
  • peru
  • suriname
  • venezuela
Informations on Boa constrictor imperator has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
Lorem Ipsum
Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Boa constrictor imperator in information
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Impact information
Common boas are considered a threat to endemic vertebrates and carnivores that can be consumed once Boa constrictor imperator reaches adult size. It its feared that they may outcompete the smaller natives boas: the 'Near Threatened (NT)' Puerto Rican boa (see Epicrates inornatus in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), the Mona Island boa Epicrates monensis monensis and the Virgin Island tree boa Epicrates monensis granti.
Boas are also a threat to humans, specifically to small children, pets and small farm animals.
The increase in world trade of reptiles in the past 10 years could pose problems due to the ticks that many of them carry, which could pass diseases to domesticated livestock populations (Burridge & Simmons, 2003; Cuaron et al, 2004).
Red List assessed species 1: CR = 1;
View more species View less species
Locations
MEXICO
PUERTO RICO
UNITED STATES
Mechanism
[2] Competition
[1] Predation
Outcomes
[3] Environmental Ecosystem - Habitat
  • [3] Reduction in native biodiversity
[3] Socio-Economic
  • [1] Reduce/damage livestock and products
  • [1] Human health
  • [1] Human nuisance 
Management information
Preventative measures: Risk Assessment models for assessing the risk that exotic vertebrates could establish in Australia have been further explored by the Western Australia Department of Agriculture & Food (DAFWA) to confirm that they reasonably predict public safety, establishment and pest risks across a full range of exotic species and risk levels.
The Risk assessment for the Boa (Boa constrictor), has been assigned a VPC Threat Category of EXTREME.
Mammals and birds were assessed for the pest risk they pose if introduced to Australia, by calculating Vertebrate Pests Committee (VPC) Threat Categories. These categories incorporate risk of establishing populations in the wild, risk of causing public harm, and risk of becoming a pest (eg causing agricultural damage, competing with native fauna, etc). The 7-factor Australian Bird and Mammal Model was used for these assessments.
Locations
PUERTO RICO
Management Category
Control
Bibliography
22 references found for Boa constrictor imperator

Management information
Livo, Lauren J.; Geoffrey A. Hammerson and Hobart M. Smith ., 1998. Summary of Amphibians and Reptiles Introduced into Colorado. Northwestern Naturalist, Vol. 79, No. 1 (Spring, 1998), pp. 1-11
Martinez-Morales, Miguel Angel & Alfredo D. Cuaron., 1999. Boa constrictor, an introduced predator threatening the endemic fauna on Cozumel Island, Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation 8: 957�963, 1999.
Massam, Marion and Win Kirkpatrick, Peter Mawson, Norm Press, Tony Bennell and Neil Hamilton., Revised 2007. Importing and keeping introduced mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in Western Australia. Bulletin 4604 ISSN 1448-0352 February 2004. Department of Agriculture. Government of Western Australia.
Summary: Available from: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/AAP/OL/BULLETIN4604.PDF [Accessed 1 September 2008]
Massam M, Kirkpatrick W and Page A., 2010. Assessment and prioritisation of risk for forty introduced animal species. Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, Canberra.
Summary: This report documents work contributing to a project commissioned by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre to validate and refine risk assessment models used in decisions to import and manage introduced vertebrate species. The intent of the project was to: a) increase predictive accuracy, scientific validation and adoption of risk assessment models for the import and keeping of exotic vertebrates, and b) reduce the risk of new vertebrate pests establishing introduced populations in Australia.
Available from: http://www.feral.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DAFWA_RA_060510.pdf [Accessed 16 March 2011]
Page, Amanda; Win Kirkpatrick and Marion Massam, July 2008, Stoat (Mustela erminea) risk assessment for Australia. Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia.
Summary: Models for assessing the risk that exotic vertebrates could establish in Australia have been developed for mammals, birds (Bomford 2003; Bomford 2006, 2008), reptiles and amphibians (Bomford 2006, 2008; Bomford et al. 2005). These Risk Assessment models have been further explored by Western Australia Department of Agriculture & Food (DAFWA) to confirm that they reasonably predict public safety, establishment and pest risks across a full range of exotic species and risk levels. Mammals and birds were assessed for the pest risk they pose if introduced to Australia, by calculating Vertebrate Pests Committee (VPC) Threat Categories. These categories incorporate risk of establishing populations in the wild, risk of causing public harm, and risk of becoming a pest (eg causing agricultural damage, competing with native fauna, etc). The 7-factor Australian Bird and Mammal Model was used for these assessments.
Pyron R. A, Burbrink F. T, Guiher T. J., 2008. Claims of Potential Expansion throughout the U.S. by Invasive Python Species Are Contradicted by Ecological Niche Models. PLoS ONE 3(8): e2931. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002931
Summary: Available from: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002931 [Accessed 1 September 2008]
Reed, Robert N., 2005. An Ecological Risk Assessment of Nonnative Boas and Pythons as Potentially Invasive Species in the United States. Risk Analysis, Vol. 25, No. 3, 2005
General information
Areste, Manuel, Cebrian, Rafael, 2003. Snakes of the World. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Summary: Text containing information about the many species of snakes around the world. Information includes description, habitat, behavior, reproduction, status, and distribution.
Boback, Scott., 2005. Natural History and Conservation of Island Boas (Boa constrictor) in Belize. Copeia, 2005(4), pp. 879�884
Summary: Available from: http://www.salmonboa.com/pdf/Island%20Boas.pdf [Accessed 1 September 2008]
Burridge, M.J & L.A. Simmons., 2003. Exotic ticks introduced into the United States on imported reptiles from 1962 to 2001 and their potential roles in international dissemination of diseases. Veterinary Parasitology 113 (2003) 289�320
Cuar�n, A. D., M. A. Mart�nez-Morales, K. W. McFadden, D. Valenzuela, and M. E. Gompper. 2004. The status of dwarf carnivores on Cozumel Island, Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation 13:317-331
Curry, Robert, L., 2008. Threats to the Cozumel Thrasher
Summary: Available as a link from: http://oikos.villanova.edu/cozumel/threats.html [Accessed 1 September 2008]
Ferrari, Stephen F; Washington L.A. Pereira; Ricardo R. Santos; Liza M. Veiga., 2004. Fatal Attack of a Boa constrictoron a Bearded Saki (Chiropotes satanas utahicki). Folia Primatologica; Mar/Apr 2004; 75, 2; ProQuest Health and Medical Complete pg. 111
Summary: Available from: http://www.salmonboa.com/pdf/Island%20Boas.pdf [Accessed 1 September 2008]
Florida Museum of Natural History s Checklist of Florida Amphibians and Reptiles 2006
Summary: Available from: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/Flaherps.htm [Accessed 1 September 2008]
Garza, Antonio, 1995-2008. Factsheets: Boa constrictor. The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors. Sponsored in part by the Interagency Education Research Initiative, the Homeland Foundation and the University of Michigan�Museum of Zoology. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants DUE-0633095 and DRL-0628151
Summary: Available from: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Boaconstrictor.cfm (Accessed 4 September 2008)
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), 2008. Species: Boa constrictor LINNAEUS 1758
Summary: Available from: http://data.gbif.org/species/13494384/ [Accessed 15 June 2010]
ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), 2008. Online Database Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758
Summary: An online database that provides taxonomic information, common names, synonyms and geographical jurisdiction of a species. In addition links are provided to retrieve biological records and collection information from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Data Portal and bioscience articles from BioOne journals.
Available from: http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=209569 [Accessed 1 September 2008]
Lever, Christopher., Naturalized Reptiles and Amphibians of the World Published by Oxford University Press, 2003 ISBN 0198507712, 9780198507710 318 pages
Quick, John, S; Howard K. Reinert; Eric R. De Cuba & R. Andrew Odum., 2005. Recent Occurrence and Dietary Habits of Boa constrictor on Aruba, Dutch West Indies. Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 304�307, 2005
Reptiles Database, 2007. Boa constrictor Linnaeus, 1758
Summary: Available from: http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Boa&species=constrictor [Accessed 8 September 2010]
Romero-Na�jera, Irene; Alfredo D. Cuaro�n & Cristopher Gonza�lez-Baca., 2007. Distribution, abundance, and habitat use of introduced Boa constrictor threatening the native biota of Cozumel Island, Mexico. Biodivers Conserv (2007) 16:1183�1195
Snow, R. W., K. L. Krysko, K. M. Enge, L. Oberhofer, A. Warren-Bradley, and L. Wilkins. 2007. Introduced populations of Boa constrictor (Boidae) and Python molurus bivitattus (Pythonidae) in southern Florida. pp. 416�438 in The Biology of Boas and Pythons, edited by R. W. Henderson and R. Powell. Eagle Mountain, UT: Eagle Mountain Publishing.
Contact
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Boa constrictor imperator
common boa constrictor, common northern boa, central American boa, Colombian boa, Colombian redtail boa, boa, boa constrictora, boa colombiana
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Recommended citation
(2024). Boa constrictor imperator. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).