What Are the Dangers of a Boa Constrictor?
The boa constrictor is a Central and South American snake that can achieve lengths of 13 feet and weigh as much as 100 pounds. Although not the bloodthirsty creature that stories and movies depict it as, it does have the potential to be dangerous.
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Effects
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The boa constrictor kills it prey by biting it, wrapping around it and then using its muscles to squeeze the victim. This results in the creature suffocating as it cannot expand its lungs to breathe.
Function
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The teeth of a boa constrictor are small but they grow at such an angle that once the snake bites something, it is difficult to get away. A bite from even a small boa is a painful experience.
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Features
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The boa has the ability to unhinge its jaws, a feature that allows it to swallow an animal with a much wider girth than the snake's head, such as wild pigs and monkeys.
Warning
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It is advisable to feed a pet boa with some sort of tongs. The boa hunts using its keen sense of smell and if an owner does not wash her hands thoroughly when feeding the snake, the boa can mistake the hand for food.
Prevention/Solution
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Running tap water over the head of a boa that bites a hand and refuses to let go can sometimes persuade the snake to release its grip, according to the Boa Constrictor Herpetoculture website.
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