Whatever terrain this snake chooses, it usually takes residence in the branches of a tree or an abandoned animal burrow. Granted, many pythons do call the warm rainforests of Asia home, they can also be found in grasslands, savannas, swamps, rocky outcrops, deserts, and shrublands. It’s habitat, commonly pictured as a thick steamy jungle, is actually more diverse than at first imagined. The python is not found naturally in North or South America, therefore it is considered an old world snake. They come from regions in Africa and Asia. But where does one kingdom end and where does the other begin?įirst, let’s begin with the python. Their intimidating size may even cause an elephant to think twice before going toe to toe (or maybe toe to belly? Who knows?) with one of these fearsome creatures.Īlmost exclusively the dominant predators in their respective habitats, both the boa and the python are intimidating. Both have an incredibly developed muscular body capable of taking down even the largest of mammals. Geographical Differences of Pythons and Boasīoas and pythons are considered the kings of the snake world. Let us take a moment to briefly look at some of the unique characteristics of these two serpents. A huge difference between the two species is that while pythons tend to lay eggs as a means of reproduction, boas usually go through a live birth process.īut that’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to distinguishing between these fascinating species. Is there a difference between a python and a boa? Pythons and boas have several differences, ranging from geographical origins to unique body structure adaptations. It’s easy to tell what pythons and boas have in common but how about differences? Curious as I am, I did some research and here’s what I found. The wee anthill python ( Antaresia perthensis), meanwhile, usually attains a child-like twenty inches.Whether you know it or not, pythons and boas have differences. True, the enormous reticulated python ( Python reticulatus) can exceed twenty feet in length. Yet, such giants are just the tip of the iceberg, for boas and pythons come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Well, these magnificent South American creatures belong squarely to the boa camp-in fact, they’re sometimes called “ water boas.” Anacondas, like all king-sized constrictors, are great at snagging headlines. In pythons, but not boas, a pair of upper jaw bones called the “ premaxilla” bear teeth.Īt this point, you might be wondering where anacondas fit into all this. Also, the two families sport slightly-different body plans. Boas tend to bear live young, whilst all known pythons are egg-layers, with gravid mothers sometimes squeezing out over two dozen in a single clutch. For instance, just when everyone thought Florida couldn’t get any wilder, the enormous Burmese python ( Python molurus bivittatus) began populating the Everglades during the 1980s, thanks largely to irresponsible pet owners.Īnother decent rule of thumb is reproduction. Note, however, that human globalization has helped many species artificially spread out and invade distant lands. While pythons are Old World snakes, boas also dwell in the Americas. But how can you tell them apart? And from which family does “your” serpent hail?īefore breaking out the field guide, take geography into account. Since the world’s most heavily-built snake species are all either boas or pythons, this reptile probably belongs to one of those groups. After brushing aside some foliage, your heart leaps when a huge, powerful constrictor slithers by. Picture this: you’re out hiking through a misty rainforest.
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