The rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria) is a boaspeciesendemic to Central and South America. A semi-arboreal species (not only do they climb in the wild but also proven in captivity), it is known for its attractive iridescent/holographic sheen caused by structural coloration. Five subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[3]
The rainbow boa is found in lower Central America (Costa Rica and Panama), and farther south into South America. It occurs east of the Andes, roughly reaching northern Argentina (in the provinces Chaco, Córdoba, Corrientes, Formosa, Salta, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán).
The rainbow boa's habitat generally consists of humid woodlands and rainforests, but it can also be found in open savannas.
Behavioredit
Rainbow boas are nocturnal and most active in the middle of the night.
This species is semi-arboreal, spending time both on the ground and in trees. They are also known to spend time in bodies of water, and are considered capable swimmers.
Rainbow boa sexes have different ages at which they can/should mate. Females should be from 2.5 to 4.5 years old before breeding. Males should be a minimum of 2.5 years old. Females need to be the correct size otherwise they could have complications during and after birth. Males can mate with multiple females which can be beneficial for reptile breeding.
Eating habits during breeding seasonedit
Males generally go without feeding during the mating season and Females tend to eat smaller portions during the breeding season. In order to decrease the probability of birthing issues, Females should be fed smaller rats/mice in order to save space for proper ova development.
It is not unusual for both sexes to go without eating during the mating season.
Captivityedit
The most common type of rainbow boa found in the pet trade is the Brazilian rainbow boa, E. c. cenchria. During the 1980s and early 1990s, substantial numbers were exported from Suriname. Today, however, far fewer are exported, and most offered for sale are captive bred.[4] With good care, a captive Brazilian rainbow boa can be expected to live for up to 30 years, but most live up to 20.[5]
^Calderón, M.; Ortega, A.; Catenazzi, A.; Gagliardi, G.; Cisneros-Heredia, D.F.; Nogueira, C. de C.; Schargel, W.; Rivas, G. (2021). "Epicrates cenchria". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T15154721A15154747. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T15154721A15154747.en. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
^McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^Brazilian Rainbow Boa at Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Accessed 12 November 2008.
^"Brazilian rainbow boa". Smithsonian's National Zoo. 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Epicrates cenchria alvarezi, p. 6; E. c. barbouri, p. 16; E. c. gaigeae, p. 96).
Further readingedit
Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Boidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Epicrates cenchris, pp. 94–96).
Freiberg M (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. ISBN0-87666-912-7. (Epicrates cenchria, pp. 87–88, 125-127 + photographs on pp. 18–19, 22-23, 45).
Linnaeus C (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, dierentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 824 pp. (Boa cenchria, new species, p. 215). (in Latin).
External linksedit
Media related to Epicrates cenchria at Wikimedia Commons
Epicrates cenchria at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 10 July 2008.
rainbow, aboma, redirects, here, monotypic, fish, taxon, scaly, confused, with, rainbow, snake, rainbow, epicrates, cenchria, species, endemic, central, south, america, semi, arboreal, species, only, they, climb, wild, also, proven, captivity, known, attractiv. Aboma redirects here For the monotypic fish taxon see Scaly boy Not to be confused with Rainbow snake The rainbow boa Epicrates cenchria is a boa species endemic to Central and South America A semi arboreal species not only do they climb in the wild but also proven in captivity it is known for its attractive iridescent holographic sheen caused by structural coloration Five subspecies are currently recognized including the nominate subspecies described here 3 Rainbow boa Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Boidae Genus Epicrates Species E cenchria Binomial name Epicrates cenchria Linnaeus 1758 Synonyms 2 Synonyms ListBoa cenchria Linnaeus 1754 Boa Cenchria Linnaeus 1758 Coluber tamachia Scopoli 1788 Boa Cenchris Gmelin 1788 Boa aboma Daudin 1803 Boa ternatea Daudin 1803 Boa annulifer Daudin 1803 Epicrates cenchria Wagler 1830 Cliftia fusca Gray 1849 Epicarsius cupreus J G Fischer 1856 Epicarsius cupreus Brown 1893 Epicrates cenchris Boulenger 1893 Epicrates cenchria Griffin 1916 Epicrates cenchria var fusca Griffin 1916 Epicrates cenchria cenchria Amaral 1930 Epicrates cenchria cenchria Stull 1938 Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 2 Behavior 2 1 Mating habits 2 1 1 Eating habits during breeding season 3 Captivity 4 Subspecies 5 Etymology 6 Gallery 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksDistribution and habitat editThe rainbow boa is found in lower Central America Costa Rica and Panama and farther south into South America It occurs east of the Andes roughly reaching northern Argentina in the provinces Chaco Cordoba Corrientes Formosa Salta Santiago del Estero and Tucuman The rainbow boa s habitat generally consists of humid woodlands and rainforests but it can also be found in open savannas Behavior editRainbow boas are nocturnal and most active in the middle of the night This species is semi arboreal spending time both on the ground and in trees They are also known to spend time in bodies of water and are considered capable swimmers Mating habits edit This section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Rainbow boa sexes have different ages at which they can should mate Females should be from 2 5 to 4 5 years old before breeding Males should be a minimum of 2 5 years old Females need to be the correct size otherwise they could have complications during and after birth Males can mate with multiple females which can be beneficial for reptile breeding Eating habits during breeding season edit Males generally go without feeding during the mating season and Females tend to eat smaller portions during the breeding season In order to decrease the probability of birthing issues Females should be fed smaller rats mice in order to save space for proper ova development It is not unusual for both sexes to go without eating during the mating season Captivity editThe most common type of rainbow boa found in the pet trade is the Brazilian rainbow boa E c cenchria During the 1980s and early 1990s substantial numbers were exported from Suriname Today however far fewer are exported and most offered for sale are captive bred 4 With good care a captive Brazilian rainbow boa can be expected to live for up to 30 years but most live up to 20 5 Subspecies editSubspecies 3 Taxon author 3 Common name Geographic range Epicrates cenchria barbouri Stull 1938 Marajo Island rainbow boa Epicrates cenchria cenchria Linnaeus 1758 Brazilian rainbow boa the Amazon Basin and in coastal Guiana French Guiana Suriname and southern Venezuela Epicrates cenchria gaigeae Stull 1938 Peruvian rainbow boa Epicrates cenchria hygrophilus Amaral 1935 Espirito Santo rainbow boa Epicrates cenchria polylepis Amaral 1935 Central Highlands rainbow boaEtymology editThe subspecific names barbouri and gaigeae are in honor of American herpetologists Thomas Barbour and Helen Beulah Thompson Gaige respectively 6 Gallery edit nbsp Peruvian subspecies E c gaigeae nbsp Brazilian rainbow boa at the Vancouver AquariumReferences edit Calderon M Ortega A Catenazzi A Gagliardi G Cisneros Heredia D F Nogueira C de C Schargel W Rivas G 2021 Epicrates cenchria IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T15154721A15154747 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 2 RLTS T15154721A15154747 en Retrieved 15 August 2023 McDiarmid RW Campbell JA Toure TA 1999 Snake Species of the World A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference Volume 1 Washington District of Columbia Herpetologists League 511 pp ISBN 1 893777 00 6 series ISBN 1 893777 01 4 volume a b c Epicrates cenchria Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 10 July 2008 Brazilian Rainbow Boa at Smithsonian National Zoological Park Accessed 12 November 2008 Brazilian rainbow boa Smithsonian s National Zoo 2016 04 25 Retrieved 2023 10 25 Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Epicrates cenchria alvarezi p 6 E c barbouri p 16 E c gaigeae p 96 Further reading editBoulenger GA 1893 Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum Natural History Volume I Containing the Families Boidae London Trustees of the British Museum Natural History xiii 448 pp Plates I XXVIII Epicrates cenchris pp 94 96 Freiberg M 1982 Snakes of South America Hong Kong T F H Publications 189 pp ISBN 0 87666 912 7 Epicrates cenchria pp 87 88 125 127 photographs on pp 18 19 22 23 45 Linnaeus C 1758 Systema naturae per regna tria naturae secundum classes ordines genera species cum characteribus dierentiis synonymis locis Tomus I Editio Decima Reformata Stockholm L Salvius 824 pp Boa cenchria new species p 215 in Latin External links edit nbsp Media related to Epicrates cenchria at Wikimedia Commons Epicrates cenchria at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 10 July 2008 Aboma Collier s New Encyclopedia 1921 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rainbow boa amp oldid 1223938918, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
