Colombian rainbow boa

Appearance

Size and weight- The Colombian rainbow boa is the smallest of the rainbow boas, reaching lengths of, 3 to 5 feet on average. There is clear sexual dimorphism between male and female, with females being significantly larger, in both length and girth.
Coloring- Generally uniform brown in color with large dark edged vertebral rings, with light centers forming saddles, this may also appear as a slightly off-center 'S' pattern. Through a process of metachrosis, they have a day-to-night color change. Primarily noticed in that their pattern will become a lighter almost silver and have a molted silver sides and bottom. Although individuals of abnormal colors and patterns exist, for example those that exhibit pigmentation disorders such as albinism, they are very rare in the wild, but are often found in captivity where these mutations are often prized.


These pictures provide a good example of the day-to-night color change;
both pictures are of the same snake. Pictures were taken 3.2 hours apart.

Distribution

This sub-species, being the northernmost rainbow boa, is found in rainforests and drier coastal clearings in its range; southern Central America, Trinidad & Tobago and northern South America. More semi-arboreal when young, rainbow boas may climb into trees and shrubs to forage and avoid land predators, however, they become mostly terrestrial with age.

Behavior

Rainbow boas, like all boas in the family Boidae, are non-venomous snakes that subdue their prey with constriction. Like most Boids, they have special heat-sensing pits on their faces that allow them to detect the body heat of their warm-blooded prey. While nocturnal, they may bask during the day when night-time temperatures are low. They are active at dawn and dusk and feed on small mammals, birds and lizards using their heat-sensing abilities to hunt in the low light. Most rainbow boas will never need a prey item larger than a large rat, as with most snakes, rainbow boas can expand their jaw to allow the consuming of items larger than the jaw would normally open . Wild rainbow boas may bite when they feel threatened, as a defense. This bite can be painful, but is not dangerous. Care must still be taken against infection. Like all snakes, when in a shed cycle they will be more unpredictable and irritable due to the added stress of shedding and clouded sight.

Habitat

This sub-species, being the northernmost rainbow boa, is found in rainforests and drier coastal clearings in its range; southern Central America, Trinidad & Tobago and northern South America. More semi-arboreal when young, rainbow boas may climb into trees and shrubs to forage and avoid land predators, however, they become mostly terrestrial with age.

Reproduction

Rainbow boas are solitary, associating only to mate. Boas are polygynous and ovoviviparous, thus males may mate with multiple females and give birth to live young. Females invest considerable maternal energy in their offspring since their young develop within the mother's body. The young are able to develop in a thermo-regulated, protected environment and they are provided with nutrients. Young are born fully developed and independent within minutes of birth.