Amazon tree boa
Physical features
Corallus hortulanus is celebrated for its different color and patterns.
Their base color ranges from pale tan to gray, yellow, orange or even red. Patterns are highly variable and can range from being a single solid color to a mix of various shades.
The eyes can be an assortment of colors, including yellowish, grayish, or reddish. At night they have a reflective membrane that can result in a distinctive eye shine.
The tongue is black.
Males and females are similar in size and markings. Females, on average, tend to be slightly heavier.
Range and Habitat
Range – South America (Amazonia, Brazil, Colombia, Northern Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, southern Windward Islands)
Habitat – Rainforests, savannas, dry forests
Diet: Carnivore
Wild – Birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles
Zoo – Rodents and chicks
Lifespan
Wild – Unknown; based on closely related species, likely to be 15 years or more
Zoo – 20+ years
Reproduction
Ovulation transpires in the female several weeks after copulation.
During gestation period, females often look to bask in areas with direct sunlight or heat.
Females will often take on a darker coloration during gestation. In some cases, this can become permanent.
Amazon tree boas give birth to live young. Like most live-bearing snakes, they are ovoviviparous.
The gestation period is 6 to 8 months.
Newborns will shed their skin 8 to 14 days after birth.
After about 3 years, Amazon tree boas will reach sexual maturity.
After the young are born they are immediately independent of their mother. Male Amazon tree boas do not support the care of their young.
Conservation: Least Concern
Amazon tree boas are popular pets for snake hobbyists and are commonly imported to the U.S. for the live animal trade.
Amazon tree boa populations are not considered to be at risk and have not yet been evaluated by the IUCN Red List.
Loss of forest habitats and introduction of invasive species may threaten some populations. However, this species is fairly resilient and can persist in marginally disrupted habitats.
Interpretive Information
Amazon tree boas often change coloration as they mature, with younger snakes often (but not always) sporting brighter colors than adults.
Colors can range from different shades of gray, brown, yellow, orange or red. Some individuals have a mix of all of these colors and are sometimes labeled as "Christmas tree boas." Amazon Tree Boas that are born brown or gray typically retain those colors into adulthood.
Their patterning can also be highly variable. It may range from a pattern of large, uniform darker blotches along the sides and back, to a highly irregular speckled or pixelated looking pattern. Some individuals are uniformly one color with no additional patterns.
At night, they may be found hanging from a vine or branch using their prehensile tail. Their head hangs in mid-air while they ambush prey.
Babies are born live (ovoviviparous) and are ready to climb right away.
Amazon tree boas have particularly large pits along their lips which given them the ability to see the infrared spectrum.
These snakes are primarily nocturnal.
As are most snakes, Amazon tree boas are perceptive to vibrations and have excellent chemoreception.
References
Goris, Richard C. "Infrared organs of snakes: an integral part of vision." Journal of Herpetology 45.1 (2011): 2-14.
Martins, M., Oliveira. 1999. Natural history of snakes in forests of the Manaus region, Central Amazonia, Brazil. Herpetological Natural History, 6: 78-150. Accessed December 27, 2014 at http://eco.ib.usp.br/labvert/Martins&Oliveira-HNH-1999.pdf.
Winner, K. 2008. "Corallus hortulanus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed December 08, 2014 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Corallus_hortulanus/
Zoo Atlanta Keeper Staff
Updated March 2024