Brazilian rainbow boa
Epicrates cenchria
The rainbow boa is named after its skin, that reflects the colours of the rainbow in the right lighting. This snake, which kills its prey by constriction, mostly lives at ground level but may occasionally climb low branches. It can also spend long periods in the water with only its head above the surface. When breeding, the female does not lay eggs, but gives birth to live young.
Conservation
Although the species is generally doing well in the wild, it is locally threatened by deforestation, forest fires, mining and capture for the pet market.
The species is part of the CITES convention, which regulates the international trade of endangered or threatened animals and plants.
Korkeasaari Zoo’s Brazilian rainbow boa Pedro, a former pet snake, became famous for leaving his enclosure in the Amazonia House and going missing for six months. The enclosure’s sewers were considered a likely escape route. After a long search, Pedro was found in January 2024, resting in good health in a floor pit. The snake’s new enclosure is not connected to the sewage system.
Hämärä house
Endangerment
Distribution
Habitat
Diet
Size
Lifespan
20–30 years
Lifespan
Order: Squamata
Family: Boidae