Factfile
Where they live
South America including Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, South Columbia, Venezuela and Surinam
Habitat
Rainforest and gallery forest close to water
Size
1.5-2m long
Weight
400-600g
Lifespan
15-20 years
Threats
Pet trade
Did you know...
- They have good eyesight which lets them to hunt during the day, and large infrared receptors to help them sense heat and hunt at night
- They come in a wide variety of colours and patterns which can include yellow, grey, red, tan or black
- They give birth to live young
More about Amazon tree boas...
The Amazon tree boa is a non-venomous boa species of boa found in South America. They feed mainly on mammals (including rodents and bats) and birds which they kill by constricting them. They prefer to hunt in trees and will hang from branches in an ‘S’ shape and strike at prey
Males and females are similar in size and markings. Male will shed their skin and engage in ‘tail writhing’ as part of their courtship behaviour. After a gestation period of 6-8 months, a female will give birth to live young. There is no parental involvement and juveniles will reach sexual maturity at 3 years old.
Amazon tree boas are a popular pet for snake hobbyists and so the populations in the wild have been greatly impacted by the pet trade. Nearly 5,000 individuals were exported from Guiana and Suriname in 2002. However, the Amazon tree boa is also known for being notoriously aggressive and known to strike at people
