Here is some information on how to tell the different species of boa apart. There are a further 9 or so subspecies, though these are less common. constrictor is called the “true red-tailed boa,” as it has large reddish-brown patches on its tail. imperator include “common boa,” “Colombian boa” or just “boa.” B. constrictor is a subspecies of boa constrictor, whereas b. These are two distinct types of snakes: b. However, among herpers (snake enthusiasts), the term “boa constrictor” can refer to both boa constrictor imperator and boa constrictor. Scientifically, it refers to a particular species of boa. “Boa constrictor” is quite a confusing term. They will still strangle already-dead prey before eating it. Still, their instinct to constrict is strong. Most people who own boa constrictors feed them pre-killed prey, as it’s safer for the snake. However, boa constrictor breeders have produced many different color “morphs” or variations over the years.īoas capture prey by constricting (squeezing) them to death. Regarding appearances, typical boa constrictors are usually brown, gray or cream-colored, with reddish-brown “saddle” shaped markings. Their family contains 48 other species of boa, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System.īoa constrictors can grow to between 3 and 13 feet long, depending on various factors we’ll get into later. Though they are often nicknamed “boas,” boa constrictors are a distinct species. Native to tropical regions in the Americas and the Caribbean, these snakes love the heat. Staff writer David Slade contributed to this report.1.6.8 Are Boa Constrictors a Good Beginner Pet? Boa Constrictors Pet Care Guideīoa constrictors are large, heavy-bodied snakes in the family Boidae. But it is likely to be his last.Īs for the snake, the Colemans passed it on to a neighbor, who released it in woods outside the borough. His mother, Barbara Coleman, said Michael just last week caught a garter snake at Tuscarora State Park. The only sign of Tuesday’s turmoil was a puffy finger with one puncture mark. Michael’s bite was not serious, and by Wednesday afternoon he was talking about what happened with friends in his neighborhood along Route 309. Because anti-venom can have side effects, it is reserved for serious bites, MacKenzie said. If needed, doctors remove dead skin and apply grafts. He said the first step is to assess the wound. For instance, MacKenzie said 25 percent of the bites from pit vipers, which include rattlesnakes and copperheads, have no venom in them. Hospitals treat snake bites conservatively. A typical copperhead bite has about 80 milligrams of venom, or just a fraction of a teaspoon, MacKenzie said.Ī person bitten should remain still if possible to slow venom from spreading and get to a hospital as soon as possible, he said. Richard MacKenzie, vice chairman of LVH’s emergency department, said only three or four people have been treated at the emergency room this year for snake bites.Īs in Michael’s case, a copperhead’s bite is rarely fatal because it has a small dose of venom.Ĭopperhead bites have 20 percent of the venom found in more serious rattlesnake bites. Venomous snake bites in the Lehigh Valley region are rare. “We all need to tell kids to admire these things from a distance.” “It’s great so many kids are into snakes, but you have to temper their enthusiasm,” she said. If people aren’t sure of the species, they should leave the snake alone, Gallagher said. The thin part of the hourglass is along their spine. They’ll also seek water when the weather warms.Ĭopperheads are distinguishable by dark hourglass marks on their back. She said copperheads prefer a rocky outcrop near an area where they can go underground to hibernate. They are found in hilly country from Massachusetts to northern Florida and west to Illinois, Texas and northern Mexico. “Copperheads in particular tend to be shy snakes and want very little to do with humans,” she said. Susan Gallagher, chief naturalist at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center, said it is rare to encounter a copperhead. So they gave him antibiotics and he was home by 4:30 a.m. Parrish said doctors tested Michael’s blood and found no signs of venom. By then, Michael had calmed down and gawked at the view of Dorney Park from the helicopter. He and Parrish were then flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township. Luke’s Miners Memorial Hospital in Coaldale. Michael’s parents called 911, and he was taken to St. “He kept saying, “Am I going to die? Am I going to die?”‘ Parrish said.
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