Scientific Name:
Boa Constrictor
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Ophidid
Family:
Boidae
Feeding Type:
Carnivore
Range:
Columbia
Habitat:
Warm, tropical climate
Diet in the Wild:
Small mammals and birds
Diet at the Zoo: 
Three rats every other week
Longevity:
25 to 30 years           
Description:
Boas measure between 6 and 10 feet, but can get as long as 17 feet in the wild. They weigh about 40 pounds and have girths of about 10 to 16 inches. They can be different colors and patterns, but some common colors are tan, brown, and silver.
Adaptation/Behavior:
Boas are constrictors and that means they kill their prey by constriction. Boas wrap themselves around their prey, and as the prey breathes in, the constrictor will tighten its grip, suffocating the prey. It will then swallow the prey whole, and usually headfirst. Prey is taken headfirst to allow fur and appendages to slide in easier. Boas are usually terrestrial, but may sometimes have arboreal tendencies.
Courtship/Breeding:
In the wild, breeding generally occurs during the rainy season, In captivity sexual maturity can be reached at three years of age. The gestation lasts four to ten months. Boas are ovoviviparous. This means that the eggs hatch within the mother’s body. The young are anywhere from 14 to 24 inches long and weigh two to three ounces. The young generally do not eat until after their first shed, which is approximately one week after birth.
Conservation:    
Common boas are at lower risk. However, pet trade and habitat destruction may pose a threat.