Boas
Boas
Deserts
ABout Boas

WHEN SOME BOA SPECIES WANT TO MATE, SEVERAL MALES COIL AROUND A FEMALE IN A BALL AND WRESTLE WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS BEFORE ONE WINS OR THE FEMALE MAKES A CHOICE.

The largest member of the boa family, the green anaconda, can reach lengths of up to 29 feet and can weigh over 500 lbs., making it the largest snake by weight. Boas live in rain forests, swamps, woodlands, grasslands, savannas, and semi-desert scrublands in Western North America, Central America, South America, Africa, Madagascar, Western Asia and Pacific Islands. They have long, cylinder-shaped narrow bodies, variations in color and small heads.

Who’s at the Zoo

Brazilian rainbow boa and Jamaican boa

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FACTS & STATISTICS
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Average Size
Up to 30 feet
Up to 280 pounds
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Native Region
North, Central, and South America; Asia, Madagascar, Pacific Islands
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Eating Habits
Rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, small mammals
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Conservation Status
Least concern
CONSERVATION EFFORTS FOR Boas

What can you do?

Everyone has the power to help save wild things and wild places. That power is your individual voice, your awareness and your actions. So in addition to visiting the Zoo and meeting our animal ambassadors, here are a few simple suggestions that will help save their counterparts in the wild.

  • If you plan to adopt a snake, be sure that it is coming from a reputable source.
  • Research before you adopt. Snakes may be small at first, but some popular pet species can grow up to 20 feet! Be aware of the care requirements for the type of snake you are adopting.
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Come see for yourself.

Look no further. Connect with our amazing animals and learn about the wild places they come from.

Where are they at the Zoo?
The Boa is located in the Desert Dome.
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