Madagascar Tree Boa Snake

Facts about Madagascar Ground Boas. "Scientific name for Madagascar Ground Boa is Acrantophis madagascariensis". Madagascar Ground Boa is a variety of boid snake that belongs to the genus Acrantophis of the Boidae family. The Madagascar Ground Boas are native to the island of Madagascar, and they are called by other common name, the Malagasy Ground Boa. In the Madagascar, they are largely found in the central, western and northern parts of the island. Usually, the Madagascar Ground Boas occur in sparse, and they prefer to live in the open forest, such as the arid deciduous forests of the island of Madagascar. The Madagascar Ground Boa is the biggest snake variety seen on the island of Madagascar. Due to the fame in the leather industry and in the pet market, big Madagascar Ground Boa snakes have been acknowledged by the global trade regulation.

Features of Madagascar Ground Boa

The Madagascar Ground Boa is a big size, terrestrial snake, in which female snakes are longer than the male ones, with a maximum body length of 10 feet (3 meters), and the male ones have a body length of 8 feet (2.4 meters). Similar to other varieties in the Acrantophis genus, the Madagascar Ground Boas also dispatch their prey by tightening.

The Madagascar Ground Boa has a body color, which is made up of light reddish-brown ground color blended with gray color, covered with a pattern of dorsal rhombs, sketched with brown or black color. The body colors of the Madagascar Ground Boas assist them to disguise them against the leaf litter in their home. The body sides of the snake are patterned with a sequence of black ovoid marks with red color blotches, regularly margined or centered with white color.

In some regions of Madagascar, the inhabitants of the island gather the Madagascar Ground Boas to eat as food. These stunningly patterned snake varieties have also been pretty to both the leather industry and the pet market, with the group of boas in the Marovoay region to provide a home leather trade. In some other areas, the Madagascar Ground Boa is slaughtered by humans as it is alleged to be bad fortune and predates on household poultry.

Diet of Madagascar Ground Boa

The Madagascar Ground Boa mostly feeds on small creatures and birds. The juvenile snakes usually feed on small rodents and birds.

Behavior of Madagascar Ground Boa

Hibernation in the Madagascar Ground Boa usually takes place in the dry and cool winter months, generally from May to July. The Madagascar Ground Boas take shelters in the burrows of mammals, debris piles, fallen trees and similar places that offer them some safety. The Madagascar Ground Boas are capable of tolerating degraded homes, and currently, this snake variety is not considered endangered. Being a ground-dwelling snake, the adult Madagascar Ground Boa is active throughout the day and night, whereas juvenile snakes are generally nocturnal.

Reproduction of Madagascar Ground Boa

Mating season in the Madagascar Ground Boa takes place subsequent to emerging from hibernation. Female Madagascar Ground Boas are courted by and copulate with, in excess of one male snake. Female snakes are ovoviviparous, so they give birth to 4 to 6 big live juvenile snakes after an extended development period of 4 to 6 months. The newborn snakes have a body length, ranging from 19 inches to 24 inches (48 to 61 cm) and they are already competent to feed on small birds and rodents.

The maximum lifespan of the Madagascar Ground Boa is 35 years.