Boas Vs. Pythons
Boas and pythons both belong to the scientific family boidae. While they are very similar, there are two key differences: boas give birth to live young, while pythons lay eggs and members of the pythons grow much larger. Species of each resemble each other greatly, both in appearance and habit.
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Geography
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Boas and pythons live in a variety of habitats across the world. Some species enjoy humid areas, while others prefer sandy, dry habitats. Boas are primarily found in Central and South America. Pythons are native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa and Australia, although they have been introduced into the Americas.
Size
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The python family produces the largest snakes on the planet, reaching 33 feet in length. Boas, on the other hand, reach up to approximately 13 feet with the largest specimen reaching 18 feet. Not all species, though, are this large. The common pet species ball pythons and redtail boas reach 4 feet and 7 feet, respectively.
Studies found that the larger the snake, the larger the prey. There are many reasons for this, one being that a larger snake can subdue, kill and eat larger prey. Other reasons include different prey being available in different habitats. Large pythons are known to hunt and kill deer and pigs, while many boas prefer birds, monkeys and wild pigs.
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Identification
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An emerald tree boa rests while coiled. Boas and pythons are extremely diverse between species. Many of these snakes are colored and patterned to camouflage within their habitats. When thinking of these large snakes, the brown, mottled patterns come to mind first, such as the ball python. However, species such as the emerald tree boa and green tree python are brightly colored to match their green habitats. Boas and pythons also have rather large heads. The teeth of both are small, sharp and pointed backward. They are not made for chewing. Instead, they hold the prey in place while feeding.
The snakes often coil around tree branches or themselves while waiting to ambush prey. Most species also do not move very much, considering they are ambush predators.
Considerations
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Boas and pythons are popular pets. Due to their constrictive predation strategy, they can also be dangerous when not properly taken care of. Small pets and children are particularly susceptible to the dangers of pet pythons and boas. Some of the species do grow large, and all require proper housing, feeding and other considerations to be a suitable pet.
Effects
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Due to the popularity of the exotic pet trade, many of these reptiles are released into the wild once they have grown too large for their owners. In the Everglades, particularly, an influx of Burmese pythons has been created. Part of the influx was due to breeding facilities being destroyed in 1992 due to Hurricane Andrew, while others are simply released pets.
The pythons have few natural predators in the Everglades. Because of this, they destroy natural populations of native animals, including endangered birds, mammals and alligators. They continue to breed even though great strides are taken to maintain and remove the invasive species.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit boa juvenile image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com Emerald Tree Boa image by Cozminelu from Fotolia.com
