THERMAL ECOLOGY

Research on thermoregulation in boa snakes is scarce. In this study, the thermal ecology of Boa constrictors was evaluated in specimens collected in Córdoba - Colombia and captive animals in Los Caimanes Zoo. The data indicate a high priority to precise thermoregulation for individuals and a tigmothermal behavior. Body temperatures for males and females showed differences. It was also observed that the body temperatures (Tc) of the boas in the field were higher than the temperatures selected by the organisms (Tset) in the laboratory and lower than the operative temperatures taken with steel models, demonstrating high thermoregulatory efficiency.