The subspecific name amarali is in honor of Brazilian herpetologist Afrânio Pompílio Gastos do Amaral. Illustration of Boa constrictor eques (Eydoux & Souleyet 1842), synonymized into B.
Boa imperator has been elevated to full species status, as well as Boa nebulosa and Boa orophias.
Some appear to be based more on location, rather than biological differences. Seven subspecies of Boa constrictor have been described, but many of these are poorly differentiated, and further research may redefine many of them. Other common names include chij-chan ( Mayan), jiboia ( Latin American), and macajuel ( Trinidadian). Within the exotic pet trade, it is also known as a "BCC," an abbreviation of its scientific name, to distinguish it from other boa species, such as Boa imperator or "BCI." Though all boids are constrictors, only this species is properly referred to as a "boa constrictor" – a rare instance of an animal having the same common English name and scientific binomial name (another such animal is the extinct theropod dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex).Īll subspecies are referred to as "boa constrictors," and are part of a diverse group of New World boas referred to as "red-tailed" boas, comprising species of both Boa constrictor and Boa imperator. This article focuses on the species Boa constrictor as a whole, and on the nominate subspecies B. Nine subspecies are currently recognized, although some of these are controversial. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. The boa constrictor is a member of the family Boidae, found in tropical South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean.
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.