Boa Constrictor Facts

Boa Constrictor Facts Boa constrictors are reptiles and reside mainly in Central and South America. Their scientific name, Boa constrictor, is derived from the Greek words meaning type of snake (boa) and to grasp (constrictor). They are known for their gigantic size and for killing their prey by squeezing them to death with their muscular bodies. Fast Facts: Boa Constrictor Scientific Name: Boa constrictorCommon Names: Red tailed boa, boasOrder: SquamataBasic Animal Group: ReptilesDistinguishing Characteristics: Large, heavy-bodied, beige blotches on brown bodySize: 8-13 feet in lengthWeight: 20-100 poundsLife Span: 20-40 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Tropical forests, grasslandsConservation Status: Least concernFun Fact: Boas are excellent swimmers, but they avoid water as much as possible Description Boa constrictors are non-venomous snakes best known for their large size and for squeezing their prey to death. They can climb surfaces well, swim, and travel up to speeds of one mile per hour. These reptiles have a life span of roughly 30 years, but the oldest ones have lived to 40 years. They can grow up to 13 feet in length and weigh from 20 to 100 pounds. The colors of their skin, such as pinkish-tan with patterns of brown and red, help to camouflage them well in their environment. Habitat and Distribution Boa constrictors live in Central and South America in habitats such as tropical forests, savannas, and semi-deserts.  Boas hide in the burrows of rodents at ground level during the day to rest. They are also semi-arboreal and spend time in the trees to bask in the sun. Diet and Behavior The tail of a rat hangs from the mouth of a boa constrictor as it ingests the body of the rat.   Joe McDonald/Corbis Documentary / Getty Images Boas are carnivores, and their diet consists mainly of mice, small birds, lizards, and frogs when they are young. As they mature, they eat larger mammals, such as rodents, birds, marmosets, monkeys, opossums, bats, and even wild pigs.   At night, boas hunt using sensing pits on their face that allow them to detect their preys body heat. Because they move slowly, boas rely on ambushing their prey; for instance, they may attack bats as they sleep in trees or as they fly by. They kill by using their powerful muscles to squeeze their victims body. Scientists thought this squeezing suffocates their prey, but recent findings show that the powerful pressure from the snakes actually constricts blood flow in the animal. The pressure is so powerful that the prey’s heart is not able to overcome it and it dies within seconds. Once the animal is dead, these snakes swallow their prey whole. They have special tubes in the bottom of their mouth that allow them to breath as they eat their meal. Boa constrictors digest their food with their powerful stomach acids. After a large meal, they will not need to eat for several weeks. Since they are nocturnal and solitary creatures, boas hide in rodent burrows during the day to rest, but may spend several hours in trees basking in the sun. During colder weather, they can become almost completely inactive. Reproduction and Offspring Boa constrictors reach mating age at around 3-4 years. The breeding period for them is during the rainy season. Males slither across the female’s body to stimulate the cloaca with his vestigial legs. Females produce anywhere from 20 to 60 young. These reptiles are ovoviviparous, which means that they give birth to young that are fully formed. The female eats very little during the gestation period, which lasts roughly 100 days. When the eggs are ready to be born, they push out the cloaca and must break open the protective membrane they are still encapsulated in. At birth, the young are about 20 inches and can grow to 3 feet during the first several months of life. They can survive on their own and demonstrate natural instincts for hunting and hiding from predators. Conservation Status Boa constrictors are designated as least concern under CITES Appendix II, but they have not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The biggest threat to boas comes from humans who harvest them for their skin as part of the leather trade. In tropical parts of the Americas, people may bring boas into their homes to manage rodent infestations. Species There are over 40 species of boas. A few examples of species are the rubber boa (Charina bottae), the rosy boa (Charina trivirgata), and the red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor constrictor). Rubber boas live in western North America. As their name suggests, these boas have rubbery skin, and they burrow into the ground. The rosy boa’s habitat ranges from California and Arizona to Mexico. The red-tailed boa is the species of boa constrictor that is most commonly used as a pet. Boa Constrictors and Humans Workers displaying yellow boa constrictor at a festival in Bowie, Maryland.   Tom Carter/Photolibrary/Getty Images Plus In the U.S., boa constrictors are often imported as pets and sometimes bred to produce more colorful snakes. While this pet trade may not pose a threat to boas, an unfortunate risk is that some owners simply release their pets into the environment because they do not realize how quickly these animals grow. This is particularly dangerous because boas can adapt well to new environments so long as the temperatures are conducive to them thriving. As a result, they can become an invasive species and pose serious threats to the new environment, which could lead to the disappearance of other indigenous species. Sources â€Å"Boa Constrictor.† Boa Constrictor, www.woburnsafari.co.uk/discover/meet-the-animals/reptiles/boa-constrictor/.â€Å"Boa Constrictor.† Kids National Geographic, 1 Mar. 2014, kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/boa-constrictor/.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Boa Constrictor.† Smithsonians National Zoo, 28 Nov. 2018, nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/boa-constrictor.  Boa Constrictor Facts and Information. SeaWorld Parks, seaworld.org/animals/facts/reptiles/boa-constrictor/.  Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. â€Å"Boa.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 14 May 2019, www.britannica.com/animal/boa-snake-family.

17th Century Timeline, 1600 Through 1699

17th Century Timeline, 1600 Through 1699 Major changes in the fields of philosophy and science took place  during the 17th century. Prior to the beginning of the 1600s, scientific study  and scientists in the field were not truly recognized. In fact, important figures and pioneers such as the 17th-century physicist  Isaac Newton were initially called natural philosophers because there was no such thing as the word scientist throughout most of the 17th century. But it was during this period that the emergence of newly-invented machines became part of the daily and economic lives of many people. While people studied and relied upon the more or less unproven principles of  medieval alchemy, it was during the 17th century that a transition to the science of chemistry took place. Another important development during this time was the evolution  from astrology to astronomy.   So by the end of the 17th century, the scientific revolution had taken hold and this new field of study had established itself as the leading society-shaping force that encompassed mathematical, mechanical, and  empirical bodies of knowledge. Notable scientists of this  era include the astronomer  Galileo Galilei, philosopher Renà © Descartes, inventor and mathematician  Blaise Pascal,  and  Isaac Newton. Here is a brief  historical list of the greatest technology, science, and invention hits of the 17th century. 1608 German-Dutch spectacle-maker Hans Lippershey invents the first refracting telescope. 1620 Dutch builder Cornelis Drebbel invents the earliest human-powered submarine. 1624 English mathematician William Oughtred invents the  slide rule. 1625 French physician Jean-Baptiste Denys invents a method for blood transfusion. 1629 Italian engineer and architect Giovanni Branca invents a steam turbine. 1636 English astronomer and mathematician W. Gascoigne invents the micrometer. 1642 French mathematician  Blaise Pascal invents the adding machine. 1643 Italian mathematician and physicist Evangelista Torricelli invents the barometer. 1650 Scientist and inventor  Otto von Guericke invents an air pump. 1656 Dutch mathematician and scientist  Christian Huygens  invents a pendulum clock. 1660 Cuckoo clocks were made in Furtwangen, Germany, in the Black Forest region. 1663 Mathematician and astronomer James Gregory invents the first reflecting telescope. 1668 Mathematician and physicist  Isaac Newton  invents a reflecting telescope. 1670 The first reference to a  candy cane  is made. French Benedictine monk Dom Pà ©rignon invents  Champagne. 1671 German mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz invents the calculating machine. 1674 Dutch Microbiologist  Anton Van Leeuwenhoek  was the first to see and describe bacteria with a microscope. 1675 Dutch mathematician, astronomer, and  physicist  Christian Huygens  patents the pocket watch. 1676 English architect and  natural philosopher  Robert Hooke  invents the universal joint. 1679 French physicist, mathematician, and inventor Denis Papin ​invents the pressure cooker. 1698 English inventor and engineer  Thomas Savery  invents a steam pump.