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Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor): foraging behavior

January 1, 2011

Boa constrictor is often referred to as a sit-and-wait or ambush forager that chooses locations to maximize the likelihood of prey encounters (Greene 1983. In Janzen [ed.], Costa Rica Natural History, pp. 380-382. Univ. Chicago Press, Illinois). However, as more is learned about the natural history of snakes in general, the dichotomy between active versus ambush foraging is becoming blurred. Herein, we describe an instance of diurnal active foraging by a B. constrictor, illustrating that this species exhibits a range of foraging behaviors.

Publication Year 2011
Title Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor): foraging behavior
Authors G.G. Sorrell, M.S. Boback, R.N. Reed, S. Green, Chad E. Montgomery, L.S. DeSouza, M. Chiaraviglio
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Herpetological Review
Index ID 70003593
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Fort Collins Science Center