Physical Description

        The rainbow boa has iridescent scales. Iridescent means that their scales show different colors of light when looked at from different angles. Their scales have small microscopic ridges to angle light to create a rainbow effect on top of their scales. This rainbow effect is more prominent after shedding. Scientists are not sure why they have this.  Their scales are reddish brown with black stripes and blotches. They also have orange inside of the black spots. Rainbow boas can be around four to six feet long. Large females can get up to nine pounds in weight.

Diet

          Brazilian rainbow boas are carnivores. They like to eat lizards, rodents, birds, bats, and some aquatic animals. All boa constrictors are non-venomous, and they suffocate their prey to kill it. They also ambush their prey. They can swim in water to catch their prey, but they usually do not. At zoos they are usually fed rodents.

Habitat and Range

          The Brazilian rainbow boa is found in Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname. They live in woodland forests that are usually humid and can also be found in savannas. They are often near bodies of water also.

Fun Facts

          Rainbow boas are nocturnal and use their heat sensing pits to find their prey in the dark. Rainbow Boas are also called slender boas. They can live up to 10 years ten years in the wild and in captivity then can live up to thirty years. Sometimes female rainbow boas can reproduce by themselves without any male and the baby boas share 100 percent of the mother’s DNA. This is very rare though.  There are also albino rainbow boas which have white scales and red eyes.

Brazilian rainbow boa | Smithsonian’s National Zoo (si.edu)                                                                               10 Interesting Rainbow Boa Facts (with Pictures) (snakesforpets.com)