What's a Boa?
There's more than one kind of boa, and they're not all giant-size like the boa constrictor.
The boas (including pythons and anacondas) evolved about 80 million years ago from "big-mouthed" reptiles, the early
snakes that could swallow large prey.
That's Stretching It
Of all snakes, boas can open their mouths the widest—to swallow seemingly impossible mouthfuls. Bone anatomy and elastic ligaments that connect jaw bones allow the big stretch. How wide can you open your mouth?
Python Skulls
Closed jaw at rest.
Open jaw, with a 120-degree gape.
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- African pancake tortoise
- African pancake tortoise
Malacochersus tornieri
- Aldabra tortoise
- Aldabra tortoise
Geochelone gigantea
- Alligator snapping turtle
- Alligator snapping turtle
Macroclemys temminckii
- Australian snake-necked turtle
- Australian snake-necked turtle
Chelodina longicollis
- Black ratsnake
- Black ratsnake
Elaphe obsoleta (obsoleta)
- Boa constrictor
- Boa constrictor
Boa constrictor
- Brazilian rainbow boa
- Brazilian rainbow boa
Epicrates cenchria (cenchria)
- Burmese python
- Burmese python
Python molurus (bivittatus)
- Cottonmouth
- Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
- Cuban crocodile
- Cuban crocodile
Crocodylus rhombifer
- Eastern box turtle
- Eastern box turtle
Terrapene carolina
- Emerald tree boa
- Emerald tree boa
Corallus caninus
- Emperor newt
- Emperor newt
Tylototriton shanjing
- European glass lizard
- European glass lizard
Ophisaurus apodus
- Everglades ratsnake
- Everglades ratsnake
Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni
- Eyelash palm pitviper
- Eyelash palm pitviper
Bothriechis schlegelii
- Florida softshell turtle
- Florida softshell turtle
Apalone ferox
- Gaboon viper
- Gaboon viper
Bitis gabonica
- Gharial (Gavial)
- Gharial (Gavial)
Gavialus gangeticus
- Gila monster
- Gila monster
Heloderma suspectum
- Grand Cayman iguana
- Grand Cayman iguana
Cyclura lewisi
- Greater siren
- Greater siren
Siren lacertina
- Green anaconda
- Green anaconda
Eunectes murinus
- Green iguana
- Green iguana
Iguana iguana
- Green tree python
- Green tree python
Morelia viridis
- Inland bearded dragon
- Inland bearded dragon
Pogona vitticeps
- King cobra
- King cobra
Ophiophagus hannah
- Leopard gecko
- Leopard gecko
Eublepharis macularius
- Mangrove snake
- Mangrove snake
Boiga dendrophila
- Matamata turtle
- Matamata turtle
Chelus fimbriatus
- Northern blue-tongued skink
- Northern blue-tongued skink
Tiliqua scincoides
- Northern pine snake
- Northern pine snake
Pituophis melanoleucus
- Oriental fire-bellied toad
- Oriental fire-bellied toad
Bombina orientalis
- Red-tailed ratsnake
- Red-tailed ratsnake
Gonyosoma oxycephala
- Timber rattlesnake
- Timber rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
- Tokay gecko
- Tokay gecko
Gekko gecko
- Veiled chameleon
- Veiled chameleon
Chamaeleo calyptratus
- White's tree frog
- White's tree frog
Pelodryas caerulea
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- Snake Habitat
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- Lizard Defense
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- Snake Skin
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- Reptile Diet
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- Crocodilian
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- Reptile Moves
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- Gharial Conservation
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- Zoo Breeding
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- Crocodile Conservation
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- Reptile Vision
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- Boas
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- Iguana Conservation
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- Constriction
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- Reptile Conservation
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- Venom
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- Turtle Conservation
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- Amphibian Conservation
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- Aldabra Tortoise
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- Water Quality
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- Quiz
Squares link to animal fun facts.
Question marks link to more on reptiles and amphibians.
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