Those who are interested in wildlife in general and snakes in particular, it will certainly be interesting to find out how boa constrictor differs from python. These snakes are often confused, but not only a narrow specialist - a serpentologist - can learn to distinguish them from each other. Despite the large number of common features, there are many well-defined differences.
Who is who
To begin with, we will deal with the classification. The boa constrictor and the python are relatives, but not so close. Both snakes belong to the squamous squad. The boa constrictor belongs to the Pseudopod family, and the python belongs to the Python family.
So, this is the first answer to the question of how python differs from boa constrictor: snakes belong to different families. The species diversity in both cases is quite large. Modern scientists have about 40 species of pythons and at least 60 species of boas, among which one of the largest snakes on the planet - anaconda.
Habitat
In nature, these snakes do not occur. Pythons live mainly in the Old World: in Africa, in Indochina, on the Philippine Islands, in Australia and Indonesia. Boas mainly live in the New World - in Latin America. But there are exceptions: some species inhabit the islands of New Guinea, Madagascar and Fiji.
Habitat - answer No. 2 to the question of how the boa differs from the python. But here it should be remembered that, despite the different geography, the habitat of these snakes is similar. Both boas and pythons love to hide from human eyes in thickets and thickets; There are woody species (usually colored green) and earthy (brown, brown, pockmarked).
Eyes and teeth
The most obvious and noticeable difference between boa constrictor and python is the structure of the skull. The python has an under-eye bone, and its Latin American relative does not.
Of course, not everyone who dares to look at the question of how a boa constitutes a python differs from looking into the mouth of a living snake. But one of the differences lies precisely there. If you find that the studied toothless snake, you can confidently say that you have a boa constrictor. All pythons have teeth on the maxillary bones, with which they can cling to the flesh. Among the family of pseudopods there are many species completely devoid of teeth, but there are also toothy ones.
Note that neither pythons nor boas can chew. Their teeth are just hooks with which they are held on the carcass of a captured animal. Representatives of both families do not chop food before swallowing, as a person does. Snakes simply open their mouth wider and put on an unfortunate victim.
Neither boas nor pythons have poisonous glands. Accordingly, poisonous teeth equipped with tubules for introducing a secret into the flesh are also missing.
Structure
Few people know, but some snakes in the process of evolution for some reason preserved the rudiments of the bones of the lower extremity belt. Boas and pythons are an example. But the similarities end on this fact, the structure of rudiments varies.
The male pythons retained the rudiments of the pelvic bones and the hook-like tiny legs located on the sides of the anus. Of course, the limbs are not functional, even when climbing trees they are not used. Another sign that distinguishes a python from a boa constrictor is the preserved rudimentary bones in the hemipenis. With these processes, the male rubs the female during mating games.
The boa constrictor also has small rudimentary processes with bone remains located near the anus. They no longer look like claws like a python, but like dried paws. Attached to the beginnings of the pelvic bones. Unlike python, this symptom is found in boas of both sexes.
Breeding
All pythons lay eggs covered with a non-rigid leathery shell. Cubs are born from eggs. Boas constrict eggs in the womb; during childbirth, females leave the fully formed living babies.
