Boa species ID assistance? -142KB picture in this message

[kyleontheweb]

Hi everyone, can you help me determine whether my boa is likely to be a Boa constrictor constrictor, or a Boa constrictor imperator?

I just adopted her from a rescue, she is huge, over 8 feet long. I know that with all the crossbreeding she could also be a mixed breed. Just looking for some opinions on which she is, I am curious. Thanks everyone,

~Kyle

[BWSmith]

Looks like a BCI to me.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[Rex322]

same here, definatly looks like a BCI

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[pathfinder36]

BCI. I'm guessing that is a 20 saddle count from head to vent. Anything over 17\18 is probably BCI. Two other factors would be the nice "oval" shape that the saddles make and the more slender, pointy nose.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[kyleontheweb]

Thanks! What exactly is a saddle? Also, what is the major physical difference in a BCI and BCC anyhow? I never understood why people will pay more for a BCC. A lot of them look very similar to me. If I am ever going to get to the point that I can tell the difference from a picture like you guys, I've go to learn more about the differences to look for. Thank you everyone,
~Kyle

	Boa Constrictor Constrictor Red Tail Boa Constrictor (Boa constictor constrictor). Refers to "true" red tail boas such as the Guyana and Suriname locales.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[pathfinder36]

Yea, I had the same question with mine, but she is a little more confusing. She has the real defined widow peaks on her saddles in some places, but real nice oval shapes in other places. Her saddles are thick, but far apart, but she has 20 from snout to vent. We were all a little confused with her.

	Cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and (usually) genital tracts of certain animal species.All birds, reptiles, and amphibians possess this orifice, from which they excrete both urine and feces

[pathfinder36]

A "saddle" is the dark bands around thier body. The shape that is formed between two saddles is the biggest give-away (usually). The other is the saddle count. How many saddles are there from the back of his\her head to the slit? usually, anything over 18 is a BCI.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[pathfinder36]

Here are a couple of pics - read the caption for each

[kyleontheweb]

Cool, so is the major difference in the two just the amount of saddles and the shape of them then? I would have expected there to be a larger difference than that. That's very helpful though,
thanks.

[pathfinder36]

Well, that and size. BCC will generally be larger than a BCI.