The rainbow boa (''Epicrates cenchria'') is a boa species endemic to

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

and South America. A semi-arboreal species (not only do they climb in they wild but also proven in captivity), it is known for its attractive

iridescent Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear to gradually change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Examples of iridescence include soap bubbles, feathers, butterfl ...

/holographic sheen caused by structural coloration. Five

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

are currently recognized, including the

nominate subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

described here.

Distribution and habitat

The rainbow boa is found in lower Central America (

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

and Panama), and farther south into South America. It occurs east of the Andes, roughly reaching northern Argentina (in the provinces Chaco, Córdoba, Corrientes,

Formosa Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territorie ...

, Salta,

Santiago del Estero Santiago del Estero (, Spanish for ''Saint-James-Upon-The-Lagoon'') is the capital of Santiago del Estero Province in northern Argentina. It has a population of 252,192 inhabitants, () making it the twelfth largest city in the country, with a surf ...

and Tucumán). The rainbow boa's habitat generally consists of humid woodlands and rainforests, but it can also be found in open savannas.

Behavior

Rainbow boas are nocturnal and most active in the middle of the night. This species is semi-arboreal, spending time both on the ground and in trees. They are also known to spend time in bodies of water, and are considered capable swimmers.

Captivity

The most common type of rainbow boa found found in the pet trade is the Brazilian rainbow boa (''E. c. cenchria''). During the 1980s and early 1990s, substantial numbers were exported from

Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...

. Today, however, far fewer are exported, and most offered for sale are captive bred.Brazilian Rainbow Boa
a
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Accessed 12 November 2008. With good care, a captive Brazilian rainbow boa can be expected to live for up to 30 years.

Subspecies

Etymology

The subspecific names ''barbouri'' and ''gaigeae'' are in honor of American herpetologists Thomas Barbour and

Helen Beulah Thompson Gaige Helen Beulah Thompson Gaige (November 24, 1890 – October 24, 1976) was an American herpetologist, curator of Reptiles and Amphibians for the Museum of Zoology at the University of Michigan, and a specialist in neotropical frogs. Gaige was born ...

, respectively.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Epicrates cenchria alvarezi'', p. 6;
''E. c. barbouri'', p. 16; ''E. c. gaigeae'', p. 96).

Gallery

Image:Rainbow_boa_peruvian.jpg, Peruvian subspecies (''E. c. gaigeae'').

References

External links

* * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q281531 Epicrates Reptiles of South America Reptiles described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus