What Is the Scientific Name of the Boa Constrictor?

The boa constrictor is unique in the animal kingdom. Its common English name is the same as its scientific name. Also called the red-tailed boa, the boa constrictor is a species of large, heavy-bodied snake found in the Western Hemisphere, throughout Central and South America and a few southerly locations in North America. All of its subspecies are also referred to as boa constrictors.

The only other animal with the same common and scientific name: the extinct Tyrannosaurus rex.

Life and times of a boa constrictor :

• Boas are one of the few snakes that have live births, as opposed to laying eggs. Newborn boas weigh about 2 ounces (56.7 g) and range in length from 14 to 22 inches (35.6 to 55.9 cm).
• Boa constrictors are among the longest-lived snake species in the world. A boa can live for 30 years or more.
• In the wild, the boa constrictor enjoys a diet of rodents and large lizards.