Madagascar Tree Boa

ANIMAL:
Madagascar Tree Boa Sanzinia madagascariensis

Type of Animal:
Boa/Python

Habitat:
Tree/shrub/forested areas near streams/rivers/ponds/swamps/other water bodies, tropical forest, dry forest, degraded forest, plantations, human settlements

Location(s):
Madagascar except for SW corner & offshore island of Nosy Be

Appearance:
Grayish-green to green form in E half of range 2/3 smaller than mandarin form (yellow, orange, & brown) in W half of range, females larger than males, spots on both forms, bright red at birth, pregnant (gravid) females have darker skin

Food/Diet:
Birds, lemurs, rodents, tenrecs, mongooses, bats, amphibians, lizards, other snakes (including smaller members of own species & young of larger species)

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding from zoos, wildlife parks, aquariums, & private breeders

Lifestyle:
Solitary

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young-Snakelet
Group-Solitary

Weight:
Male-7 lbs
Female-13 lbs

Gestation:
6 months 

Life Span:
15-20 years

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

Tail Length:
Male-1.5 ft
Female-2 ft

Main predators of adults are fossas, large raptors, crocodiles, introduced dogs, & introduced cats. Other boas, smaller raptors, & pigs prey on young.

Like other boas, they give birth to live young, which hatch inside mom.

While they do spend time in trees, they also spend fair amount of time on ground as well.

They usually hunt at night, using heat sensitive pits to detect prey.

Potential threats are pet trade, persecution due to fear & for killing chickens, habitat loss, deforestation, human settlement, agriculture, mining, & introduced predators.

Kills prey by constricting & swallowing it whole.

Sexually mature at 2-3 years.

Uses color as camouflage to attract prey & avoid predators.

Breeds most often from November-February but can breed year round.

Young bright red as form of mimicry to fool predators into thinking they’re poisonous.

Males fight by pushing each other to the ground.

Fun Fact(s):
Known locally as manditra.

Young boas can be unpredictable while adults fairly docile.