The
boa constrictor (
Boa constrictor), also called the
red-tailed boa or the
common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied
snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity.
[2][3] The boa constrictor is a member of the family
Boidae, found in tropical
South America, as well as some islands in the
Caribbean. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Nine
subspecies are currently recognized, although some of these are controversial.
[4] This article focuses on the species
Boa constrictor as a whole, and on the nominate subspecies
B. c. constrictor.