Corallus hortulana

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Corallus hortulana
Corallus hortulanus in Ecuador.jpg
Juvenile in Ecuador
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Corallus
Species:
C. hortulana
Binomial name
Corallus hortulana
Synonyms
Synonyms List
  • Coluber hortulanusLinnaeus, 1754
  • [Boa] HortulanaLinnaeus, 1758
  • [Boa] EnydrisLinnaeus, 1758
  • Boa hortulanaLinnaeus, 1766
  • Vipera bitisLaurenti, 1768
  • Vipera madarensisLaurenti, 1768
  • [Coluber] madarensisGmelin, 1788
  • [Coluber] BitisGmelin, 1788
  • Boa MerremiiSentzen, 1796
  • Boa AmbleocephalaDonndorff, 1798
  • Boa MerremiSchneider, 1801
  • Boa obtusicepsBechstein, 1802
  • Boa elegansDaudin, 1803
  • Corallus obtusirostrisDaudin, 1803
  • Xiphostoma ornatumWagler, 1824
  • Xiphostoma dorsuale - Wagler, 1824
  • X[iphosoma]. hortulanumFitzinger, 1826
  • [Xiphosoma] MerremiiWagler, 1830
  • Boa modestaReuss, 1830
  • Boa hortulanaSchlegel, 1837
  • Corallus maculatusGray, 1842
  • Corallus hortulanusGray, 1842
  • Xiphosoma hortulanumA.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
  • Corallus hortulanusBoulenger, 1893
  • Boa hortulanaIhering, 1911
  • Boa hortulanaGriffin, 1916
  • Boa enydris enydrisStull, 1935
  • Corallus enydrisForcart, 1951
  • Corallus enydris enydrisForcart, 1951
  • Corallus hortulanus hortulanusRoze, 1966
  • Corallus enydrisHenderson, 1993
  • Corallus hortulanusMcDiarmid, Touré & Savage, 1996 [2]

Corallus hortulana, previously known as Corallus hortulanus, and commonly known as the Amazon tree boa, common tree boa, [3] garden tree boa, [4] 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. [5] It is primarily nocturnal and arboreal, though it has been observed feeding and reproducing on the ground. [6] Like all boas, it is non-venomous.

Contents

Description

Adults grow to an average of 5 and 6.5 feet (1.5–2 m) [7] 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. [5] 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." [5] 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. [5]

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. [5] 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. [5]

Most studied Corallus hortulana specimens are found 2 m 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. [5]

They range from 0 to 900 m in elevation, though typically found below 300 m elevation. [8] [5]

Diet

Like all other Boidae, Amazon Tree Boas feed by constricting whole, live prey. They have long teeth which help it to catch potentially flying prey while in trees. The diet is described as being "very euryphagic", [9] which means it consumes a wide variety of prey. In the wild the species has been observed to consume all manner of vertebrate prey, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and possibly even fish. [10] [11] "More than 50% of the individuals fed on prey weighing up to 20% of their own body mass and about 20% preyed on animals weighing from 40-95% of their masses." [9] In terms of absolute mass, adults fed on larger prey items, while younger specimens ate proportionally larger food items. [9]

It has been suggested that there is an ontogenetic change in general prey preferences with younger individuals preferring reptiles and amphibians while adults eat almost exclusively birds and mammals. [11]

Reproduction

Amazon Tree Boas, like other Boas are ovoviparous, [12] which means they give birth to live young. The reproductive season of Corallus hortulana can vary between locations, and has variously been attributed to food availability and seasonal conditions. [6] During copulation, the male entangles about 30% of its body around the female and performs movements with his head, including rubbing the chin against the female’s neck and head. In captivity, two males copulated for ~37 minutes with a female, without engaging in combat. After a gestation period of 6–7 months, females give birth from 2–29 young that measure 28.2–64.4 cm in total length. [10]

Though the species has a wide distribution and is relatively abundant, comparatively little is known about its reproduction in the wild. There have been 4 documented cases of Amazon Tree Boas copulating in the wild. Surprisingly, though primarily arboreal and nocturnal, Amazon Tree Boas have been documented mating during the day and night as well as in the canopy and on the ground. Two daytime observations were in the trees, while two were on the ground. [6]

Captivity

While Amazon tree boas are encountered relatively frequently in the pet industry, they have a notoriously irritable temperament, do not hesitate to bite, and have specific care requirements. As such, they are not recommended for inexperienced keepers.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boidae</span> Family of snakes

The Boidae, commonly known as boas or boids, are a family of nonvenomous snakes primarily found in the Americas, as well as Africa, Europe, Asia, and some Pacific islands. Boas include some of the world's largest snakes, with the green anaconda of South America being the heaviest and second-longest snake known; in general, adults are medium to large in size, with females usually larger than the males. Six subfamilies comprising 15 genera and 54 species are currently recognized.

<i>Corallus</i> Genus of snakes

Corallus, the neotropical tree boas, are a genus of boas found in Central America, South America and the West Indies. Nine extant species are recognized as of 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaican boa</span> Species of snake

The Jamaican boa, Jamaican yellow boa or yellow snake is a boa species endemic to Jamaica. No subspecies are recognized. Like all other boas, it is not venomous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green tree python</span> Species of snake

The green tree python, is a species of snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is native to New Guinea, some islands in Indonesia, and the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. First described by Hermann Schlegel in 1872, it was known for many years as Chondropython viridis. As its common name suggests, it is a bright green snake that can reach a total length of 2 m (6.6 ft) and a weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb), with females slightly larger and heavier than males. Living generally in trees, the green tree python mainly hunts and eats small reptiles and mammals. It is a popular pet, and numbers in the wild have suffered with large-scale smuggling of wild-caught green tree pythons in Indonesia. Despite this, the green tree python is rated as least concern on the IUCN Red List of endangered species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green anaconda</span> Species of snake

The green anaconda, also known as the giant anaconda, emerald anaconda, common anaconda, common water boa, or southern green anaconda, is a semi-aquatic boa species found in South America and the Caribbean island of Trinidad. It is the largest, heaviest, and second longest snake in the world, after the reticulated python. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all boas, it is a non-venomous constrictor. The term "anaconda" often refers to this species, though the term could also apply to other members of the genus Eunectes. Fossils of the snake date back to the Late Pleistocene in the Gruta do Urso locality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerald tree boa</span> Species of snake

The emerald tree boa is a boa species found in the rainforests of South America. Since 2009 the species Corallus batesii has been distinguished from the emerald tree boa. Like all other boas, it is nonvenomous.

<i>Sanzinia madagascariensis</i> Species of snake

Sanzinia madagascariensis, also known as the Madagascar tree boa or Malagasy tree boa, is a boa species endemic to the island of Madagascar. It was once considered conspecific with the Nosy Komba ground boa. Like all other boas, it is non-venomous.

<i>Acrantophis madagascariensis</i> Species of snake

Acrantophis madagascariensis is a species of boid snake in the subfamily Sanziniinae that is endemic to the island of Madagascar. Its common names include the Madagascar ground boa and Malagasy ground boa.

<i>Corallus cropanii</i> Species of snake

Corallus cropanii, or Cropani's tree boa, is a species of boa, a snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Like all boas, it is not venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized. Until 2017, no specimen of this snake had been seen alive since 1953 and only five dead specimens had been collected since then, but in late January 2017, an adult female Cropan's tree boa measuring 1.7 m was captured by locals in Ribeira who brought it to herpetologists from the Instituto Butantan and the Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo, who radio-tagged and released the animal to learn more about the species' behavior.

<i>Corallus cookii</i> Species of snake

Corallus cookii, also known as Cook's tree boa or Cooke's tree boa, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. There are no recognized subspecies.

<i>Corallus ruschenbergerii</i> Species of snake

Corallus ruschenbergerii, commonly known as the Central American tree boa, common tree boa, and Trinidad tree boa, is a boa species found in lower Central America and northern South America. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all boas, it is not venomous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban boa</span> Species of snake

The Cuban boa, also known as the Cuban tree boa and by locals as Majá de Santa María, is a very large species of snake in the family Boidae. With lengths exceeding 5 m (16 ft) and a relatively heavy build, the Cuban boa is one of the largest snakes in North America. The species is native to Cuba and some nearby islands. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Boa imperator</i> Species of snake

Boa imperator is a large and heavy-bodied arboreal species of nonvenomous, constrictor-type snake in the family Boidae. One of the most popular pet snakes in the world, B. imperator's native range is from Mexico through Central and South America, with local populations on several small Caribbean islands. It is commonly called the Central American boa, northern boa, Colombian boa, common boa and common northern boa.

<i>Corallus annulatus</i> Species of snake

Corallus annulatus, known as the ringed tree boa, annulated tree boa, and northern annulated tree boa, is a boa species found in Central and South America. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here. Like all boas, it is a non-venomous constrictor.

<i>Bothrops bilineatus</i> Species of pit viper

Bothrops bilineatus, also known as the two-striped forest-pitviper, parrotsnake, Amazonian palm viper, or green jararaca, is a highly venomous pit viper species found in the Amazon region of South America. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here. A pale green arboreal species that may reach 1 m (3.3 ft) in length, it is an important cause of snakebite throughout the entire Amazon region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor</span> Special species of snake

The Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor, also known as the Inagua trope or Bahama wood snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas.

<i>Tropidophis feicki</i> Species of snake

Tropidophis feicki, also known commonly as the broad-banded dwarf boa, the broad-banded trope, and Feick's dwarf boa, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Cuba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boa constrictor</span> Species of snake

The boa constrictor, also known as the common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the family Boidae. The species is native to tropical South America. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Four subspecies are recognized.

<i>Corallus batesii</i> Species of snake

Corallus batesii, also known commonly as the Amazon Basin emerald tree boa, is a species of snake in the subfamily Boinae of the family Boidae. The species is native to the tropical rainforests of South America. This species was revalidated from the synonymy of Corallus caninus by Henderson and colleagues in 2009.

References

  1. ↑ NatureServe (2013). "Garden Tree Boa Corallus hortulanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  2. ↑ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  3. ↑ "Corallus hortulanus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 14 July 2008.
  4. ↑ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN   0-8069-6460-X.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Winner, Kevin. "Corallus hortulanus (Garden Tree Boa)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Vol. 26 No. 2 (2019): Reptiles & Amphibians". Reptiles & Amphibians. 26 (2). 1 August 2019. doi:10.17161/randa.v26i2. ISSN   2332-4961.
  7. ↑ Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. Dorling Kindersley. 624 pp. ISBN   0-7894-7764-5.
  8. ↑ "Amazon Tree Boa". Reptile Range. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Pizzatto, Lígia; Marques, Otavio; Facure, Kátia (1 January 2009). "Food habits of Brazilian boid snakes: overview and new data, with special reference to Corallus hortulanus". Amphibia-Reptilia. 30 (4): 533–544. doi:10.1163/156853809789647121. ISSN   1568-5381.
  10. 1 2 "Amazon Tree-Boa (Corallus hortulana)". www.reptilesofecuador.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Amazon Tree-Boa (Corallus hortulana)". www.reptilesofecuador.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Corallus hortulana". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 29 March 2024.

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