Slim boas
| Slim boas | ||||||||||||
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Rainbow boa ( Epicrates cenchria cenchria ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Epicrates | ||||||||||||
| Wagler , 1830 |
The epicrates ( Epicrates ) are a genus of the family of Boas (boidae). It includes five species that are distributed from Central America to northern Argentina .
features
A number of characteristics distinguish it from all other giant snakes. On the top of the head there are relatively large shields in front , including a pair of prefrontalia and a pair of internasalia . The nasal opening is surrounded by three nasal shields, the top pair of which touches behind the rostral shield . The back of the head usually has one or two frontal shields and one to three supraocular shields and is otherwise covered by small, irregular scales. Usually there are no thermal pits . The trunk has 20 to 69 rows of scales in the middle. The subcaudal shields and the anal shield are undivided. All the scales are smooth. The front teeth on the upper and lower jaw are significantly larger than the back.
Way of life
Slim boas are mostly nocturnal, but can often be seen sunbathing during the day. Small mammals, birds and reptiles serve as prey, which are strangled and devoured head first. The mating usually takes place between February and May, the 8 to 30 cubs are born alive from August to October . Most species reproduce every other year and can reach an age of over ten years.
species
- Argentine rainbow boa ( Epicrates alvarezi )
- Striped rainbow boa ( Epicrates assisi )
- Red rainbow boa ( Epicrates cenchria )
- Paraguay rainbow boa ( Epicrates crassus )
- Brown rainbow boa ( Epicrates maurus )
swell
- Jay Mathers Savage: The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. A Herpetofauna Between Two Continents, Between Two Seas . University of Chicago Press, Chicago 2002, ISBN 0-226-73537-0 .
- Anne Hildyard (Ed.): Abu – Bir . Marshall Cavendish, New York 2001, ISBN 0-7614-7195-2 ( Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World. Volume 2).
