Boa constrictor constrictor
From all subspecies of Boa constrictor takes this subspecies the biggest range.
This subspecies was defined by Linnaeus in year 1758. Its territory extends
from eastern hillsides up to Atlantic coast. The largest part of range is
situated in Amazonian lowlands. State boundaries are for the animals not
mandatory and localities on the frontier are fading one into another.
Though that develop here specific phenotypic variants isolated by other
natural factor as for example mountains or strong river stream are. To
orient more easily, we will divide the localities following state boundaries.
It fair to say loud, that exemplar wild caught in Guiana can be identical with
a Boa constrictor constrictor caught in Surinam and reversely. On the other side
it is not feasible, but the situation in some private breeds is quiet common,
to “create” subspecies based on similar phenotypic characters.
In Czech Republic, so in Europe, the population of captive bred Boa constrictors
is from 90% created from mixed various subspecies representatives. When we try
to keep the TLB breed (True Locality Boas) it is necessary to know exactly the
real origin of the snake and to keep the purity of bloodline. If the breeder
crosses a Boa constrictor constrictor from Peru with an exemplar of “Boa domestic”,
some animals from litter can look like an original Surinam Boa but is it essentially
NOT feasible to offer the babies as Surinam Boas! What a surprise for new happy
owner of amazing cheap Boa constrictor constrictor bought in neighborhood or at
snake show or bursa instead of expensive import when his offspring is only a
mess of “Boa domestic”.
The breeders who really TLB breed, they know, that to reach a successful
offspring of these boas mean to pass over many of specific problems connected
with sexual ratio, age ration and mating of breeding group or pair itself.
Litters of Boa constrictor constrictor are not as plentiful as e.g. by Boa
constrictor imperators the litters are. PLEASE do not count with the eventuality,
that from Boa constrictor constrictor you will reach a litter every year in the
same period and in the same count of babies. The nominative subspecies are not
like this. The price of Boa constrictor constrictor is so high, because of smaller
litters, later puberty and gamomorphism and other specific features, which these
beautiful snakes have. Real TLB Boa constrictor constrictor you cannot buy for
100 USD or EURO. Normal price is about 400 USD/EURO per one animal up to 800 USD/EURO.
Pay also attention to experience of breeder. If the breeder can give you a proof
of the real origin and to prove, that he has really bred the babies, e.g. by snaps
of mating, snaps of gravid female, then think about buying. Unfortunately, they
are the “breeders” all around the world, who declare a litter and the “litter”
is only a few babies wild caught in original land or “farm bred” in land of
origin from wild caught stressed gravid female. What a prenatal stress these
babies have – and what start of life condition they have. Maybe this is also
an answer to a question of bigger neonate mortality in comparison with mortality
of CB Boa constrictor constrictor (significant for all Boa constrictor subspecies).
Více informací:
http://www.biolib.cz/cz/taxon/id58403
SURINAM:
Surinam Boa constrictor constrictor belongs to most viewy subspecies. The most
attractive exemplars take breath. Saddle number is generally lower (as e.g. by
Boa constrictor imperator), tail part of body is high red. Despite of it also
in this region can be found several “trends”.
From Surinam came from not only exemplars with butterfly pattern and typically
red tail, but also Boa constrictor constrictors similar to Peruvian form – Boa
constrictors so called “circle backs” even exemplars with green tint on side
of body and without for this range of Boa constrictor so typical red tail. The
price is (as usual by TLB) dependant on coloration. Sometimes could be really
very high…
More pictures at:
http://www.ectothermics.com
GIUANA:
Guiana Boa constrictor constrictors can be very similar colored as Surinams are.
This fact is given by ignoring of state boundaries, what was by snakes many
times demonstrated. Range of Guiana Boa constrictors is limited almost by
natural effects. Various exemplars you can see in French Guiana and Guiana.
Both states are crossed by Surinam.
The most number of captive bred Boa constrictors came from French Guiana.
Significant marks can be approved: dark violet tail saddles, dorsal saddles
connected by longitudinal “filament”. But also in this case (even in case of
Surinam Boa constrictors) we cannot define “typical” exemplar. We can only
say the Guianas have more tendencies to natural pattern aberration than others.
More pictures at:
http://www.ectothermics.com
PERU:
Peruvian Boa constrictor constrictors in private breeds came from two localities
– Pucallpa and Iquitos. These beautiful snakes are coming through intensive
change of coloration during life. Neonates are usually grey pale, adult are
high contrast yellow. In terrariums this Boa constrictors belong to very
worth subspecies.
Sometimes are crossbreeds to buy on the market. Be careful, because phenotypic
similar animals coming from offspring of Peruvian red tail and Boa domestic
have every time in next breed babies only “seem” to look like Peruvian, but
original genetic side of breed is away. Serious breeders do not offer this
crossbreeds as original Peruvian, more in introduction article of subspecies
Boa constrictor constrictor.
VENEZUELA:
Venezuela is very interesting country with a lot of biotopes. Amazonian lowlands
are divided by Guiana Highlands, so we have here rainbow forests and also swampy
lowlands of Los Ilanos. Rainbow forest in Orinoco Delta is separated from
Amazonian lowlands - that creates a natural boundary for ranges of various
color mutation of Boa constrictor constrictor. Venezuelan constrictors are
not as common as the others subspecies in captive breed, so as “basic”
coloration can be considered lower amount of dorsal saddles, connected by
longitudinal filament. Tail is not very high red and if it is, then mainly by
sub adults.
COLOMBIA:
Colombian Boa constrictor constrictors have their range mainly on East from
Andes edge. They are phenotypic similar to Boa constrictor imperator from this
range living on piedmont at other side of Andes. If the exemplar is really Boa
constrictor constrictor or Boa constrictor imperator can say only the man, who
has personally caught the snake in a specific location. Here can be found really
Red tails, but carefully please with the origin. To define a crossbreed even if
natural between Boa constrictor imperator and Boa constrictor constrictor is
not an easy task for experts in herpetology.
BTW: In USA are common name for all the Boas “red tails”. It is not easy to say,
when it is goal to sell the snake more expensive and when it is only involuntary
ignorance.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO:
Island Trinidad and Tobago are entrance to small group of Caribbean islands,
which was by Columbus given name West Indies. Larger Trinidad is more devastated
by civilization press, smaller Tobago has by now more original natural character.
Boa constrictor constrictors from this locality came mainly from Trinidad.
BRAZIL:
Even thought Brazil takes the biggest part of overall territory of Boa
constrictor constrictor, Brazilian form is not very often kept in terrariums.
In southern district (Pantanal etc.) is Boa constrictor constrictor meeting
subspecies Boa constrictor amarali and both these subspecies express similar
characters. Most of known Brazilian Boa constrictors are very light colored
(subadults are almost grey) with sharp and extensive dorsal saddles. About
various forms here cannot be spoken, maximally let speak about trends.
Snakes from locality near Surinam have the saddles fanged into butterfly
saddles, extremely contrast as by exemplar found near Belem. Southern forms
of Boa constrictor constrictor are similar colored to Boa constrictor amarali.
Exemplars found in districts near Colombia and Peru has simple “classic”
saddles. Brazilian constrictors have also quiet often a pattern in dorsal
circles (in circle back, between connected saddles). This pattern is mostly
in form of big speckles (1 – 2 in one circle) or elongated line segment
(1 in one circle).
Due to large dimensions of Brazil is task to define a “classic” phenotypic
Boa constrictor constrictor representative very hard. If there is a knowledge
about real origin of kept exemplar, it should be high important to breed the
local bloodline separated from other exemplar to keep it clear.
More pictures at:
http://www.ectothermics.com
