Hi. I'm a newbie in this forum. I'm Miss Unique's sister (probably you may not remember her).
I have got few questions about snakes.

What is the difference between Boas and Pythons? Are they usually venemous?



^ Is this a boa or a python? How can we tell the difference?
Thanks

That snake is a python. It looks like its a Ball Python actually. The reason I say this is because I own 2 of them.

The difference between the 2 is genetics.

No they are not venomous. Pythons and boas rely on brute strength to kill their prey. They grab, squeeze, and suffocate.

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.:: Rich ::.

+ Spread The Info

What do you mean by genetic differences? Do you mean that they have different patterns in their bodies? Can you explain more please?

That is a ball python (Python regius), also known as a royal python. It's one of the most commonly kept snakes. I can tell it is one because...well, it is one! It's like seeing one of your kids and recognozing it as one of your kids simply because it looks like your kid. You just get used to seeing them.

Boas are in the family Boidae and pythons are in the family Pythonidae. Pythons have teeth on the premaxilla (an area of the jaw) and boas do not. Most boas are livebearers while most pythons lay eggs. Most boas are generally thought of as arboreal (tree-dwelling) and most pythons terrestrial (land-dwelling), though there are many exceptions.

All in all boas and pythons are very closely related and considered primitive snakes. They are both constrictors. There are many different genera and species of both boas and pythons though, so "boa" and "python" are very general terms. It's comparable to the difference between mice and hamsters. There are many different species (types) of both, and though they look somewhat similar, they're not the same thing. The patterns and appearances is different between the individual species of pythons and boas, not just between boas and pythons in general. Here are some pictures that may illustrate what I mean:

Some pythons:

amethystine python
http://www.wettropics.gov.au/st/rain...es/python2.jpg

ball python
http://members.aol.com/hopfam1/images/ball%20python.jpg

green tree python
http://www.cites.org/gallery/species...ree_python.jpg

burmese python
http://windsofchange.net/images/SCI_..._Python_lg.jpg


Some boas:

amazon tree boa
http://www.acreptiles.com/other_rept...d_eye_1202.jpg

red-tailed boa
http://www.boulderbellygrams.com/columbianredtail.jpg

dumeril's boa
http://ranchodelastortugas.com/images/dumeril.JPG

So as you can see, there are lots of different types of both boas and pythons, with physical and behavioral differences between each species. There's no set physical difference that seperates all boas from all pythons that I can think of. There are no venomous members of either family.

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

Also, pythons have one more bone in their head then boa do. Like that is really going to help much...

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Colleen

I guess you put a lot of effort in that post. Thank you, you have answered all my questions