Nature - My View
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Pictures
    • Birds >
      • Hummingbirds
      • Macaws & Parrots
      • Raptors
    • Flora
    • Insects
    • Mammals >
      • Monkeys
    • Reptiles & Amphibians >
      • Snakes
      • Toads & Frogs
    • Trap Cam
  • Check lists
    • Amphibians list of Kabalebo
    • Bird list of Kabalebo
    • Mammal list of Kabalebo
    • Reptiles list of Kabalebo
  • Extra
    • Archives
    • Audio
    • Birding
    • My Gear & Books
    • Published articles
    • Video
  • Exploring Abroad
  • About
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Pictures
    • Birds >
      • Hummingbirds
      • Macaws & Parrots
      • Raptors
    • Flora
    • Insects
    • Mammals >
      • Monkeys
    • Reptiles & Amphibians >
      • Snakes
      • Toads & Frogs
    • Trap Cam
  • Check lists
    • Amphibians list of Kabalebo
    • Bird list of Kabalebo
    • Mammal list of Kabalebo
    • Reptiles list of Kabalebo
  • Extra
    • Archives
    • Audio
    • Birding
    • My Gear & Books
    • Published articles
    • Video
  • Exploring Abroad
  • About

Lunching at Kabalebo!

6/14/2016

 
Picture
On April 14, 2016 the Red-tailed Boa decided to have its lunch at Kabalebo.
The Red-tailed Boa (Boa constrictor constrictor) is a common reptile in Kabalebo. Also a non venemous snake, meaning that it has to strangle its prey before devouring. On April 14, 2016 I got to witness this rare opportunity.

Right after my own lunch I saw a small heap between all the leaves in the shadow. A young Red-tailed boa just caught an Amazon whiptail (Ameiva ameiva). As I didn't want to disturb this little predator but at the same time didn't want to miss this rare occasion I decided to use my assistent: the iPhone. While the boa was still busy strangling its prey I positioned the iPhone on a bench and filmed the whole ordeal for 12 minutes. So these close up pictures are actually stills taken from the iPhone while filming.
Picture
Picture
(Stills from the iPhone film): As you can see in the first 2 pictures, the Red-tailed boa held on tight until it was certain that its prey was lifeless. Otherwise it will injure itself during the whole swallowing process. 
Picture
Picture
(Stills from the iPhone film): now it is preparing for its lunch. First it takes its prey by the head and lay it out in full length. The Amazon whiptail was approximately 30 cm long. The Red-tailed boa uses its teeth to have a firm grip during the whole process. 
Picture
Picture
The first picture is a still from the iPhone film: as you can see, the Red-tailed boa works its way towards its prey as it stood on the same spot the whole time.
The second picture I took myself (distance of 5 meters): here you can clearly see the last part of the Amazon whiptail with its hindlegs still visible.
Picture
Picture
Picture
(These picture were taken by me): you can clearly see how flexible its jaw can get. If not for the previous pictures, you would have thought that this boa has a strange looking tongue. After devouring/swallowing its prey, the Red-tailed boa took a break for half an hour before going back into its hiding spot.

This whole lunch break of the Red-tailed Boa lasted only 18 minutes. 

​You may also like the following posts:

Breakfast at Kabalebo

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All
    Agouti
    Amphibians
    Antbirds
    Antpittas
    Antwrens
    Bananaquit
    Bird Of Prey
    Birdwatching
    Butterfly
    Capybaras
    Cardinal
    Cats
    Exploring Abroad
    Giant Otters
    Hummingbirds
    Insect
    Lizards
    Lowland Tapir
    Mammals
    Migrants
    Monkeys
    Motmot
    Nature
    Nightjars
    Oriole & Oropendola's
    Owl
    Parrot Family
    Rallidae
    Reptiles
    Rodent
    Seedeaters
    Sloth
    Tanagers
    Technology
    Tody-flycatchers
    Toucan Family
    Vultures
    Woodcreeper
    Woodpeckers

    RSS Feed

    http://blogsiteslist.com

    For the latest updates!

Subscribe to Newsletter

Let's get social!

Created by Armida Madngisa © 2014 - 2023