![]() ![]() The snakes are born fully formed, and not protected by their mothers. ![]() Hatchling Boa constrictors are around twenty inches long. Boa constrictors also rarely eat in winter due to brumation. ![]() After taking down a large mammal, this snake can go without food for months. How often a Boa constrictor eats depends on the size of its last meal. This means a constrictor may bask in the sun after eating, breaking their nocturnal hunting pattern. As Physiology and Biochemical Zoology explains, these snakes need to be warm to digest their food. In addition, the boa constrictor has slow digestion.īoa constrictors are nocturnal hunters. If the snake is unwell or shedding, it will not seek food. If necessary though, the snake will eat much larger animals.īoa constrictors are not greedy snakes. As a rule, constrictors prefer to eat prey no more than 1.5 times their mass. Like most snakes, a Boa constrictor can open its jaws extremely wide. Once the prey is dead, the Boa constrictor swallows it whole. This prevents blood from reaching the heart, killing prey. According to the Journal of Experimental Biology, the constrictor actually restricts blood flow. It was long believed that Boa constrictors used their powerful body to suffocate prey to death. Most animals targeted by a Boa constrictor are dead within minutes.įemales are larger, and thus even deadlier. This means that most prey stands little chance of This involves the constrictor wrapping its body around prey until it is dead.īoa constrictors can reach between eight and ten feet and For its own protection, the snake then kills the animal. This means the prey cannot shake off the constrictor. The Boa constrictor bites its prey first. The constrictor will remain out of sight until prey passes. They hide in their natural habitat, usually inside a hollow log or abandoned burrow. Boa constrictors are opportunistic hunters. ![]()
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