'New' Bc amarali update

[tonyj]

Below are some photos taken today, of two of the three Bolivian boas, that I recently acquired from Marc and Brenda of B&M reptiles of St Adolphe, near Winnipeg.

The third one I received, an 06 female, is heading into a 'shed', so I didn't bother her for a new photo

I must say that the animals, which were originally bred here in Calgary by Big Dan, are coming along beautifully, and are retaining much of the pink colouring that Dan's Bca 'orange crush' line amaralis are renowned for.

First an 05 male:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/tonyjp/DSC_0082_edited-1.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/tonyjp/DSC_0079_edited-1.jpg

then an 06 female:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/tonyjp/DSC_0006_edited-1.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l48/tonyjp/DSC_0004_velma.jpg

Thank you both Marc and Brenda. I am so pleased with all three of these gorgeous Bcas.

[ToddPeddle]

Amazing boa's Tony.
Now you know a few of us are still waiting to hear what the secret boa's you are getting are.

[tonyj]

Okay Todd, I'll come clean.

I was actually negotiating and awaiting shipment of the amaralis, and I was horse trading for the pair of bredli, and hoping to part with a few milksnakes.

It doesn't do to boast of things that are not yet in your possession, at least that what I think. Hopefully this year may also see a couple of nice additions, but even I won't know what they are until I see them. ;)

[mascaron]

I like milk snakes their colours are fantastic.

[Spankenstyne]

Beautiful snakes Tony. So for those of us not in the know what distinguishes amaralis from BCI and BCC ?

[tonyj]

What distinguishes a Boa constrictor amarali from a Bc imperator or a Bc constrictor?

Hmm, good one Spank. Hope this isn't a credit course and I don't need to get into the various scale counts, which I can provide, but wont for this reply .

The Bc amarali was first described in 1932 by Olive Griffith Stull, in a paper entitled "Five new sub-species of the Family Boidae", and was named in honour of Dr. Afranio do Amaral of the Instituto Butantun located in Sau Paulo, Brazil.

Dr. do Amaral had collected the holotype and subsequent paratypes initially used to describe this subspecies.

The subspecies of Bc known as the amarali is found in certain Atlantic rainforest areas of Brazil, Bolivia and formerly Paraguay, where clear cutting of its natural habitat has now all but decimated it from that country.

The amarali is decribed as a heavy bodied 'short tailed' boa, rarely surpassing five feet in length as an adult, but occasionally reaching six feet plus. (Stull described the maximum adult size that she examined as five feet in length).

This contrasts greatly, when compared in size and colour, to its closest geographical neighbours in the boa family, the 'occidentalis' (Bco or Argentine boa) to the South, and the 'constrictor' (Bcc) to the North, each of which can grow to ten feet or beyond.

Bci from even further North, will also exceed nine or ten feet at times, although the Bci comes in so many naturally occurring 'varieties', from the smallish Hog Island Boa, to some really huge specimens.

A quick comparison of the ubiquitous 'common' or 'columbian' boa (Bci), to an 'amarali' immediately will indicate major differences in saddle shape, number of saddles, length of tail, body type etc., just to name some of the more noticeable physical characteristics. Colour is a problem, as the Bci now comes in so many different shades and hues., as well as patterns; arabesques, jungles, motleys, leopards etc., etc.

The amarali has been described as having a pale dorsum of 'pale red to pink' or in various shades of grey. It has a uniformly speckled belly in every shade of grey from silver to charcoal, dark brown or red.

The saddles on the back have pronounced 'peaks' and are usually quite narrow and can become connected.

The modern 'silverbacks' or the 'pink and red' amarali have also resulted from selective breeding techniques, although both types do exist naturally.

The amarali is also subject to much debate, being referred to as the 'Bolivian boa' by some, the 'Sao Paulo boa' by others, or simply the 'short tailed boa'.

This is partly due the result of the initial shipments of forty animals collected in 1982 and shipped to Florida for distribution to the pet trade. These animals were specifically of unknown origin, but arrived with a shipment of wild Blue and Gold Macaws from Bolivia. Many of the amaralis we see today are descended from these animals.

Meanwhile in Europe a shipment was made from Sao Paulo, Brazil in the early 1990s, and subsequent European animals have descended from this shipment and are claimed to be originally from Brazil (Sao Paulo), and not from Bolivia.

The amarali has a well earned reputation as being a calm, docile snake. It is not normally a problem feeder, but will readily put on weight if overfed.

They are described also, as taking a year or more longer to become sexually mature, than either Bci or Bcc.

We are very lucky to have some beautiful amaralis in Canada, most of them coming from our friend Dan U., here in Calgary.

I eventually hope to breed my amaralis, and now have a small group of these beautiful snakes to work with.

As prices are lowered and availability is improved, I can see these boas soon becoming an attractive alternative to hobbyists who want a 'real' boa, but don't have the space to raise a full grown Bcc, Bco or Bci.

[Spankenstyne]

Awesome info, thanks Tony. That sure would make for a great presentation at one of the upcoming meetings ;)



Just sayin' ...

[Mikey]

Tonyj, awesome post! you sure your not getting a commission from Dan promoting these? I sure know you just made up my mind!

Cheers, Mikey.

[mascaron]

Me too! their size is way more appealing then a Bcc and they are just as pretty. Now I want one too! Me and reptiles lol I'm going to be like a crazy cat lady when I'm old but I got to keep the collection down until I finish school lol.