Garden Tree Boa

Corallus hortulana, previously known as Corallus hortulanus, and commonly known as the Amazon tree boa, common tree boa, garden tree boa, and macabrel, is a boa species found in South America. Previously, there were two recognized subspecies, Corallus hortulanus hortulanus, and Corallus hortulanus cooki, though the species has undergone taxonomic revision and has been broken up into several species. It is primarily nocturnal and arboreal, though it has been observed feeding and reproducing on the ground. Like all boas, it is non-venomous.

Description

Adults grow to an average of 5 and 6.5 feet (1.5–2 m). This species exhibits an array of colors and patterns. The basic color can be anywhere from black, brown, or gray, to any shade of red, orange, yellow, or many colors in between. The head generally has five dark stripes that extend from the eyes. The eyes can be yellowish, grayish, or reddish, and they have a reflective membrane that results in eyeshine at night. Some are patternless, while others may be speckled, banded, or saddled with rhomboid or chevron shapes. Some reds will have yellow patterns, some yellows red or orange patterns. "The tongue is black. Males and females are similar in size and markings. They range from 525 to 1880 mm in length, usually from 1200 to 1500 mm." Like all other boas they have a pair of anal spurs that extend from the cloaca, which are small, claw-like remnants of vestigial hindlimbs.

In the herpetoculture hobby, they are often distinguished by two color 'phases' that appear genetically inherited, the 'garden phase' and the 'colored phase'. The 'garden phase' refers to boas with drab coloration, mostly brown or olive, with varied patterning, while the 'colored phase' refers to animals with combinations of red, orange, and yellow coloring.

Geographic range

The range of Corallus hortulana stretches from southern Central America, across northern South America, southeast to the Tropic of Cancer in Brazil. Amazon tree boas are found in a wide variety of habitats. They are common in arboreal regions with high humidity, especially Amazon rainforest. They can also be found in dry areas such as savannas or dry forests.

Most studied Corallus hortulana specimens are found 2 m (6.6 ft) or more above the ground in trees or other vegetation. They have also been observed feeding and reproducing on the ground. Amazon tree boas are also relatively common along rivers. They occupy forest, rainforest and scrub forest terrestrial biomes and are especially associated with riparian habitats.

They range from 0 to 900 m (3,000 ft) in elevation, though typically found below 300 m (980 ft) elevation.

Diet