Boa c. occidentalis
"Argentine Boa" (Philippi 1863)
Distribution: Argentina, Paraguay
The Argentine Boa has a dark-brown to black shade, which is in contrast to the bright scales that build the boa pattern. This boa can reach a length of ten feet and more in captivity too.
Not all Boa c. occidentalis look attractive. Black specimens with a high rate of white, and a distinctive contrast are a treat for the eyes.
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Boa c. occidentalis (Argentine Boa) |
Incidentally, in our experience the Argentine boa is fundamentally more active than the other subspecies of Boa constrictor.
The Argentine boa is the only one subspecies of Boa constrictor that is registered in the appendix I of the CITES. That means, that it is threatened by extinction. Therefore, a special permit is needed for commercialization.
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Boa c. occidentalis (Argentine Boa) |
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Argentine boa babies are often agressive, |
Almost 80 per cent of the Argentine rainforest has been cut down during the past 90 years. In 2002 only 330.000 Square kilometers (127.414 Square miles) of initial 1.060.000 Square kilometers (409.268 Square miles) in 1914 still exist, according to a study that was recently published by the Argentine Authority of Environment in Buenos Aires.
The loss equals more than the double size of Germany. The reasons are the expansion of agriculture and cattle breeding as well as the deforestation by the timber industry, according to the study.
Source: Landshut Newspaper, edition 1st of March, 2003
Therefore it is no wondor that the Argentine Boas is in immediate danger of extinction.
