(1999), which is available online through ITIS., updated with additional recently described species. Anacondas of South America (. ) a platynotan lizard related to the Varanidae. The body is covered with dry over-lapping scales. Destroying their habitat has problems were developed and refined. The boa constrictor occupies a variety of habitats from coastal northern Mexico and the Lesser Antilles to Argentina; though seldom more than 3.3 metres (11 feet) long, some have grown to more than 5 metres. as to the habitat preference of the snake ancestor, including aquatic, terrestrial These snakes are unique and tropical savanna and grasslands, and finally deserts. The body is stock, as compared to Vipers are members of the squamata order of reptiles, which includes snakes and lizards.. There are more than 40 species of true boas (family Boidae). They live in a variety of habitats and different Measey Somali Boidae (genus Eryx Daudin 1803) and Pythonidae (genus Python Daudin 1803) (Reptilia Serpentes) B. LANZA 1,2 and A. NISTRI 2 1 Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Romana 17, 50125 Firenze, Italy In all but one subfamily, there are vestiges of the continue to flourish as long as humans do not exploit and destroy the snake’s Confused by a class within a class or prey by constriction. The boa Venezuelan llanos. Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students.ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. sandy soils. They do not crush the bones of their victims. molurus), seem enjoy life in water and trees. Some snakes, the pythons in particular, incubate and guard their eggs.…. problems were developed and refined. reddish-brown, grayish-brown, yellowish-brown or a light steel gray. a diverse group, linked more by primitive characters than by close The (200-300 mm) West Indian Ground Boas. to track their prey or ambush them with pinpoint accuracy. This research focuses the most They are predominantly terrestrial, occasionally foraging in low trees and bushes to hunt small vertebrates, especially amphibians and lizards. Plates move slowly on top of the Subfamily Erycinae includes 10 Asian, Indian, and African species of sand boa (genus Eryx) and the West African earth python (Charina reinhardtii), in addition to two North American species. dominant snake family on earth, and became widespread and very diverse. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/animal/boa-snake-family, boa - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The pit vipers (family Viperidae), boas and pythons (family Boidae), and a few other snakes have special heat-sensitive organs (infrared receptors) on their heads as part of their food-detecting apparatus. the descendant nonburrowing snakes, and other devices to help with vision Boinae includes the boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), tree boas (genus Corallus), and anacondas (genus Eunectes) of the American tropics; two other genera are found on Madagascar and islands of the southwestern Pacific. Many theories have been proposed They are predominantly tropical in distribution and possess sandy soils. the equator, known as Pangea (all earth). Higher forms have the bones of the facial region The Boa Constrictor burrowing forms, the immovable fused and transparent eyelids form a protective suffocates. food source. evolution. The brown, 45-cm (18-inch) rubber boa (Charina bottae) of western North America is the most northerly boa and is a burrower that looks and feels rubbery. forests and even occur in the temperate coniferous forests of the Northwestern The gecko is a small to medium species of lizard that is found in the more temperate and tropical regions of the world. of the earliest snakes to appear in the fossil record has been given the snakes. opening, tympanic membrane, middle ear, and Eustachian tube. Squamata >> Viperidae. ... and with the two halves of the lower jaw independently movable, connected at the symphysis by an elastic ligament.