Madagascar Tree Boa

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Madagascar Tree Boa

Tree Boa Sanzinia madagascariensis

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Boidae
Genus:	Sanzinia
Species:	S. madagascariensis

Binomial name

Sanzinia madagascariensis
Duméril & Bibron, 1844

Synonyms

Boa mandrita

The Madagascar Tree Boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis) is a species of semi-arboreal boa, endemic to Nosy Be, Madagascar and the forested regions of the main island. It is the only species in the genus Sanzinia, but the genus is often synonymized with the genus Boa.

When treated as a species of Boa, the name becomes Boa mandritra to avoid confusion with one of Madagascar's other boas, Acrantophis madagascariensis, which is designated Boa madagascariensis when considered as a member of the Boa genus. Mandritra is the native Malagasy word for the Madagascar Tree Boa.

1 Description
2 Reproduction
3 Subspecies
4 References

[edit] Description

This medium-sized constrictor occurs in two colour variations, which according to some sources are subspecies. Prevalent mainly in the eastern half of the range is the green to greyish-green form which tends to be about two thirds of the size of the "mandarin" form which is yellow, orange and brown and occurs in some parts of the western side of the range.

As with many boa species, they have heat-sensitive pits around the mouth, used for hunting at night. They average from 6-7 feet in length and weigh from 7-13lbs. Females are larger than males, some females have been reported weighing as much as 30 lb.

[edit] Reproduction

When the female of this species is gravid, its skin color darkens. This adaptation provides increased heat absorption for the developing young. After giving birth, the female's color returns to the normal green at its next shed cycle. The bright red color of newborns may warn predators to "stay away" while providing camouflage among brightly colored treetop flowers.