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costaricafinca

Costa Rican snake ID needed, please

18 years ago

I would apprieciate some help in ID'ing this snake. Found in neighbors house, Guanacaste.

Here is a cropped section,

Here is a link that might be useful:

Comments (10)

  • 18 years ago

    That would be a Boa Constrictor, latin name Boa constrictor. Not venomous, although they do get quite large and could pose a threat to pets or small children. They are not aggressive but could be defensive if they are bothered. They are not difficult to move with a broom and a garbage can.

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks for your help! I have seen quite a few snakes here, but not one of these...
    It has been given to a local 'petting zoo' but only for observation.

  • 18 years ago

    That's a typical Central American Boa Constrictor, Boa constrictor imperator. Boas, unlike the larger pythons, do NOT pose a threat to small children or pets, unless your pets happen to be small birds, rodents or rabbits. There has never been a documented case of a Boa inflicting any serious harm on a human being, and the Central American and Mexican subspecies are generally a lot smaller than their Amazonian counterparts, the true "Red-Tailed" Boas. I bred boas and pythons of different species for many years, by the way.

  • 18 years ago

    While I'd agree they're more "tamable" than the Burms, an over 7 feet hungry (or unhandled) boa may not discriminate.

    Here is a link that might be useful: possible exception

  • 18 years ago

    The snake in the Fox News story later proved to have been a Burmese Python, NOT a Boa at all. It's fairly typical for the news media and law enforcement officers to report ANY large constricting snake as "Boa Constrictor", just like any short-haired dog that bites someone automatically becomes a "pit bull" when that is reported. People just automatically associate Boas with constricting, so they assume that if the snake used constriction, it has to be a Boa. That story is a very good example of how innaccurate reports involving snakes can be.

  • 18 years ago

    Typical Fox News. LOL

  • 18 years ago

    Did you notice the face on the snake's back?! That's pretty cool!

  • 18 years ago

    A punkin head, just in time for Hollerween.

  • 18 years ago

    Be glad it is not a Fur de lance

  • 18 years ago

    Or even a Fer-de-lance :-)

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