Buzz
Imagine you're trekking through a foggy rainforest. As you move aside some dense underbrush, your pulse quickens when a massive constrictor slides past. Since the largest snake species are either boas or pythons, it’s likely this serpent belongs to one of these groups. But how do you differentiate between them? And what family does this snake belong to?
Before diving into your field guide, consider the geographic locations. Pythons are native to the Old World, whereas boas are found in the Americas. However, human activity has led to the spread of many species across the globe. For example, just when Florida seemed wild enough, the giant Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) began to make its way into the Everglades in the 1980s, mostly due to irresponsible pet owners.
A useful tip to remember is how they reproduce. Boas usually give birth to live young, while all pythons lay eggs, with some mothers laying over two dozen eggs at once. Additionally, the two families have slightly different body structures. In pythons, but not in boas, a set of upper jaw bones called the “premaxilla” bear teeth.
You might be asking yourself where anacondas fit into all this. Well, these impressive South American reptiles are firmly part of the boa family—and they’re even referred to as “water boas.” Like other massive constrictors, anacondas have a way of grabbing attention. But these giants are just a small part of the story, as both boas and pythons come in many shapes and sizes. True, the gigantic reticulated python (Python reticulatus) can grow beyond twenty feet. Meanwhile, the tiny anthill python (Antaresia perthensis) typically only reaches a mere twenty inches.
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Despite all the contrasts we've highlighted, some boas and pythons share similar roles in their ecosystems. The striking snake in the photo above is the green tree python (Morelia verdis), native to Australia. Far across the world, in South America, you'll find the emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus), shown in the image below.
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No, you aren’t imagining things. Genetically, these creatures aren’t closely related: boas and pythons have been following separate evolutionary paths for quite some time now. However, their resemblances are striking. Both species hang from tree branches while awaiting prey, both can grow up to six feet long, and both begin life as red or yellow hatchlings before maturing into vivid green adults.
This phenomenon is known as “convergent evolution,” a process where unrelated species independently develop similar characteristics in response to comparable environmental challenges or ecological roles. Isn’t nature fascinating?
