Annulated/Ringed Tree Boa

ANIMAL:
Annulated/Ringed Tree Boa Corallus annulatus

Type of Animal:
Boa/Python

Habitat:
Rainforest, secondary growth, human modified habitats

Location(s):
E Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, W Colombia, NW Ecuador

Appearance:
2 main phases-gray/brown phase has brownish-red to brown to light gray ground color w/ blackish/dark rhomboidal rings or net-like reticulations, red/orange phase ranges from burnt orange to red w/ darker brown rings on sides, both phases have long flat heads, prehensile tail

Food/Diet:
Small rodents, birds, lizards, eggs

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & herpetoculture

Lifestyle:
Solitary

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Snakelet
Group: Solitary

Weight:
Male: 5 lbs
Female: 6 lbs
 
Gestation:
6-9.5 months 

Life Span:
20 years

Body Length:
Male: 4-5 ft
Female: 5-6 ft
Young: 2 ft

Tail Length:
0.4 ft, same for both sexes

Main predators are felids, crocodilians, boa constrictors, & raptors.
 
Like most boas, they’re ovoviviparous w/ eggs hatching internally, resulting in 5-20 live young.
 
They’re ambush predators but can also be active hunters as well.
 
Like all boas, they kill prey by constricting/swallowing whole.
 
Like all tree boas, they’re highly arboreal.
 
Sexually mature at 3 years old.
 
Most often nocturnal or crepuscular.
 
Larger older females have larger litters.
 
Numerous infrared heat receptors located in scales along lower/upper lips pick up tiny temperature differences between prey & background.
 
Coloration often aids in camouflage-handy for catching prey & avoiding predators.
 
Rather uncommon in captivity.
 
Also called Annulated Boa & Brown Dog-Headed Boa.

Fun Fact(s):
These snakes are very shy but much more docile than other Corallus species.
 
No 2 individuals have exact same pattern.
 
Often eat meals by hanging from high branches by prehensile tails to eat meals.
 
These boas can change color, especially when they become lighter at night.