![]() ![]() This lighter coloration adds to the boa’s appeal to boa hobbyists. The Hog Island boa is hypomelanistic, meaning it’s considerably lighter in coloration than other boa constrictors. This same type of dwarfism has been observed in species as diverse as sloths, hippos and even elephants.Īnother way the Hog Island boas differ from their mainland cousins is in coloration. For example, while the average female boa constrictor reaches lengths between 7 and 10 feet, the Hog island boa females are normally between 5 and 6 feet. This is due to insular dwarfism, a process by which island animal populations become smaller than their mainland relatives. The Hog Island boa is also considerably smaller than other types of boa constrictor. Migratory birds use the Hog Islands as part of their annual journey, and Hog Island boas take advantage of this transient food source. Hog Island boas spend more time within tree branches in search of prey, and they demonstrate a greater reliance on birds as a food source than other boa constrictors. For the boa, which normally takes advantage of mammalian prey, this has resulted in changes in diet and behavior. The Cayos Cochinos are largely covered in rain forest and host to relatively few mammal species. Separated from the remainder of the northern boa constrictor population, the Hog Island boas have deviated in terms of size, coloration and feeding habits. Sparsholt College in Hampshire, England, maintains Hog Island boas in preparation for future breeding projects. Found only on the Hog Islands, or Cayos Cochinos, in Honduras, the Hog Island boa has been considered something of a rarity in collections, though its popularity and availability have increased in recent years.
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