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Common Boa

Boa constrictor imperator

Photo by SG in CR
Published on Project Noah
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11.0005, -85.2761

Field Notes

Description:

Large (4-5ft long) heavy bodied snake.

Habitat:

Orange Grove surrounded by tropical forest.

Notes:

Found this boa (Boa constrictor) inside the chicken coop. I got lucky, it had already made it's way up to the roosting poles. I'm pretty sure a few minutes later and I would have had one or two chickens less. When captured it wrapped it's body around my arm and squeezed tight enough to cut off blood flow. After I removed it, I released it about 2 miles away.

Reference Links:

Boa constrictor imperator, CrispySnakes

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
AshleyT
A bite from a boa definitely wouldn't be fun, especially one this size!
SG in CR
Neil, Ashley, thanks for taking a look. The snake showing up in the chicken coop worked out for everyone. The snake got taken to a spot out of the farm (most of our employees will kill any snake on sight, regardless of my telling them not to). The chickens probably didn't understand what all the fuss was about. And I got to get some neat pictures and handle the snake. As far as getting my hands on it, I pinned it to floor with a stick first, so I could get a grip right behind the head. Otherwise it would have left me bloody. The first few minutes it was pretty pissed.
Neil Ross
Well done, Sigg. Lucky for the chickens too, and probably the boa as well. I'm sure many would have just killed it. Thanks for sharing this wonderful spotting.
AshleyT
Awesome you could get your hands on him, such a pretty snake! I just got back from Mexico and saw two of these and neither I could get to so I could hold them :/

Spotted for Missions

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Snakes of the World
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Reptiles and Amphibians of Costa Rica
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Life in Costa Rica
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Reptiles of Costa Rica

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Photographed
PublishedAugust 16, 2014

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