Common Northern Boa
”Clever girl.”
~Robert Muldoon
Species:
Boa imperator
Common Name:
Common Northern Boa/Colombian Boa
Family:
Boidae
Seen in:
• Jurassic Park (1993)
Vocalizations:
Description:
The Common Northern Boa, also known as the Colombian Boa, is a large species of arboreal Boa snake that is primarily found in Central America. While sizeable, Colombian Boas are on the lower size range of their relatives, ranging from one to three meters in length and living between 20 to 30 years.
The Colombian Boa is known for its brownish body color with X shaped dark markings over their backs and tones of red on their tails. It is a constrictor snake, grasping and suffocating its prey before eating them whole. Their prey can range from small mammals such as rodents, young deer, and even bats, to reptiles and birds.
Size Estimates:
1.3m to 2.5m long
Did you know?
A unique subspecies of Common Northern Boa, Boa imperator sabogae, is known as the Pearl Islands Boa, being found specifically off the coast of Panama.
Habitat & Geographical Ranging:
Found primarily in various countries across Central America, the Colombian Boa can also be seen in Mexico and northern parts of South America such as Colombia. Many islands are also home to this species of snake, such as in the Caribbean and Isla Nublar. One individual was seen near the vicinity of the Visitor Center during the 1993 incident.
Common Northern Boas prefer to live in tropical rainforests with high temperature and humidity levels. The dwell in dense foliage in the high branches of trees to conceal them while hunting and to stay away from the eyes of predators.
Individual Variation:
Two subspecies of Common Northern Boa exist in the wild, one, called Boa imperator imperator, is known as the Common Northern Boa, found in all mentioned regions above. The second, called Pearl Islands Boa, is Boa imperator sabogae, being found specifically at Pearl Islands only, off the coast of Panama. The Colombian Boa also contains multiple isolated populations in Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Ecuador, but these are not considered subspecies.