Fun Rainbow Boa Facts For Kids

The rainbow boa (kingdom Epicrates cenchria) from the family Boidae is also known by the name Slender Boa because of the shape of its body as they are small mammals having heat-sensing ability found in open savannas. It is a terrestrial species and is best known for its sheen, which is iridescent/holographic, which is known to be caused by structural coloration found in southern Venezuela. The rainbow boa is a medium-sized snake and ranges in color from red to orange to mahogany brown and has a dark ring pattern that is down the dorsal (back) surface and also has dark spots along the sides. Epicrates cenchria is known to be non-venomous.

Here are some of the most interesting facts about the species Epicrates cenchria. To learn more about reptiles and small mammals, you may also look at rubber boa facts and worm snake facts.
 

What type of animal is a rainbow boa?

Rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria) is a type of snake having heat-sensing abilities. They are venomous snakes and are medium in size as compared to the other species of snakes.

What class of animal does a rainbow boa belong to?

The Brazilian rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria) belongs to the class Reptilia as they are a species that belongs to the family of snakes. Though they are known to be venomous, they are not dangerous to humans.

How many rainbow boas are there in the world?

There is no specific or particular number so as to how many rainbow boas snakes there are in the world. The number of rainbow boas differs according to the different factors which determine the population of rainbow boas. Therefore, the number of rainbow boas keeps changing.

Where does a rainbow boa live?

Rainbow boas mostly prefer to live in the humid woodlands and rainforests, and they are also found in open savannas. They are found in different regions in lower Central America, the Amazon River basin, coastal Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, and south Venezuela.

What is a rainbow boa's habitat?

Rainbow boa’s habitat consists of humid woodlands and rainforests and also the open savannas.

Who do rainbow boas live with?

Rainbow boas, with their amazing black stripes, prefer to live alone rather than living in pairs or in groups. They are solitary creatures and prefer to live alone. Rainbow boas only come together during the time of their mating season.

How long does a rainbow boa live?

The lifespan of a rainbow boa is said to be 25 years. The lifespan of rainbow boas depends on certain factors such as changes in the climate, eating habits, or threats to them, which determine the lifespan of rainbow boas.

How do they reproduce?

The rainbow boa, or slender boa, is a species of snakes having black stripes that are considered ovoviviparous. The young ones develop in the eggs that are retained by the female and are also hatched inside the female’s body and then are born alive. The male and female rainbow boas do not provide parental care to any of the hatchlings and the young begin hunting for baby rodents in a week's time.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of rainbow boas species is not extinct, indicating that their conservation is of no serious concern at present.

What do rainbow boas look like?

When compared to the other species of snakes, rainbow boas species (family genus of snakes) are medium-sized and range in different colors from red to orange to mahogany brown with a dark ring pattern that is down the dorsal back surface and also has dark spots along the sides. The scales of rainbow boas are iridescent, especially after their shedding. These genus species are round-bodied warm-blooded, and reddish-brown, and are terrestrial boas and range differently in height in the male and the females. Therefore, the rainbow boa is medium-sized based on its body structure.

How cute are they?

Rainbow boas are not cute in their appearance as they look very gross because of their body structure and body type. Therefore, they do not look cute.

How do they communicate?

The rainbow boa uses their system, which is known as a vomeronasal system which enables them to track the prey, smell the approaching predators and also help them in communicating with the other snakes by collecting the chemical cues which they emit.

How big is a rainbow boa?

Rainbow boas are medium in size as compared to the other species of snakes. They are round-bodied terrestrial boas and range in length at around 6 ft (1.8 m) long. Their head is wider than their neck. It is almost 10 times smaller than the Titanoboa.

How fast can a rainbow boa move?

Rainbow boas cannot move fast. They can move only about 1 mph (1.6 kph) on open ground. As they do not have to chase for their food, they do not tend to travel quickly. Therefore, rainbow boas cannot move fast.

How much does a rainbow boa weigh?

On average, rainbow boas weigh around 5 lb (2.2 kg). Sometimes, the female rainbow boas weigh more than the male rainbow boas. The weight of rainbow boas is dependent on their eating habits as well.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no specific name for the male and the female rainbow boas. They are known as male and female rainbow boas only.

What would you call a baby rainbow boa?

A baby rainbow boa is called a hatchling.

What do they eat?

The diet of rainbow boas consists of bats, birds, frogs, and also some type of aquatic life and lizards. They also often feed on mice and rats.

Are they poisonous?

No, rainbow boas are not poisonous but are aggressive creatures. They tend to bite humans when they feel threatened, but their bite is not dangerous for humans.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, rainbow boas make good pets if their requirements are fulfilled by the pet owner.

Did you know...

Rainbow boas are known to be excellent swimmers but avoid going in water as much as possible. Rainbow boas have special pits on their face, which enables them to detect heat. Rainbow boas have a prehensile tail which helps them in grasping objects.

Rainbow boas use their tail which enables them to have a grip when they are navigating the trees. Rainbow boas give birth to hatchlings without mating.

Rainbow boas need a climate that is extremely humid. Though they are named rainbow boas, they are not rainbow-colored. Rainbow boas sense the smell through their tongue.

Are rainbow boas aggressive?

No, rainbow boas are not aggressive in nature. The baby rainbow boas are aggressive in nature when they feel they are threatened.

Can a rainbow boa kill you?

No, rainbow boas do not kill human beings. They kill their prey by constricting them and using the heat-sensing pits in their jaws. Therefore, there are no chances of a rainbow boa killing human beings.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles from our smooth green snake facts and king cobra facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable rainbow boa coloring pages.