Boa constrictor; Print; The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor); also called the red-tailed boa or the common boa; is a species of large; non-venomous; heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the family Boidae; found in tropical North; Central; and South America; as well as some islands in the Caribbean. A staple of private collections and public displays; its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Nine subspecies are currently recognized; although some of these are controversial. This article focuses on the species Boa constrictor as a whole; and on the nominate subspecies B. c. constrictor.; without head