Found throughout the Amazon Basin and surrounding regions of South America, this non-venomous snake is known for its stunning diversity of colors and patterns, its arboreal (tree-dwelling) lifestyle, and its rather grumpy personality — all of which make it both admired and respected by herpetologists and reptile enthusiasts alike.

One of the most fascinating features of the Amazon tree boa is its incredible range of appearances. Some individuals are bright orange, red, or yellow, while others are dark gray, brown, or even black, often with spots, stripes, or net-like patterns. This phenomenon is known as polymorphism, and it might be one of the most polymorphic snakes on the planet. No two individuals look exactly the same, which is both a camouflage advantage in the dense Amazon forest and a delight to researchers and hobbyists.

Amazon tree boas are expert climbers, spending most of their lives coiled in trees and shrubs, often resting in a tight, saddle-like coil during the day and becoming active at night. They use their prehensile tails to grasp branches as they move, and they hunt using heat-sensing pits on their faces — like built-in night vision goggles — to detect warm-blooded prey in the dark. Their diet includes small mammals, birds, and lizards, and they are ambush predators, meaning they wait patiently for something to pass by before striking with lightning speed and wrapping their powerful body around their catch.

What makes the Amazon tree boa different from many other boas — aside from its wild color variation — is its behavior. It’s known for being defensive and temperamental, especially in the wild. It won’t hesitate to strike, hiss, or snap its jaws when threatened. However, it rarely causes harm since it’s non-venomous and uses constriction rather than venom to subdue prey.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Bolivia

2013

Brazil

2013

Amazonas

Colombia

2013

Ecuador

2013

French Guiana

2013

Guyana

2013

Peru

2013

Suriname

2013

Venezuela

2013