Boa constrictor

Boa constrictor
Species information
Eye colour	Beady
Skin colour	Brown
Related to	Python Grass Snake King Cobra Rattlesnake Boomslang
Native to	Brazil
Alternative names	Boa
Length of average adult	Around 13 feet
Mortality	Mortal
Distinction	Large, heavy bodied Predatory/carnivorous
Status	Extant

"Boa constrictors can grow up to four metres long. They eat anything they set their sights on including birds, pigs and monkeys. They do this by grabbing their prey, wrapping their bodies around their victims until they suffocate, and finally swallowing them whole."

— Description on a plaque at the Zoo.

The Boa constrictor (binomial name Boa constrictor) is a large, heavy-bodied species of snake, a member of the family Boidae.

History

On 23 June, 1991, Parselmouth Harry Potter spoke to a boa constrictor from Brazil that was in captivity at a Zoo in Surrey. Harry unknowingly used underage magic by making the glass of its enclosure vanish, freeing the boa. The boa then said to him "Brazil, here I come. Thanksss, amigo", before leaving.

Behind the scenes

The animated Nagini as a Dumeril's Ground Boa

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the boa constrictor from Brazil is changed to a Burmese Python, and so is the mention of it in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
  • In the Brazilian dub, the boa constrictor comes from Brazil according to the first movie (referencing the book), but its species is not mentioned in the second movie.
• In both the book and the film, the snake winks at Harry, despite the fact that snakes have no eyelids.
• Also in the film, after the boa is freed the glass reappears trapping Dudley on the inside of the pen.
• In the film adaptions of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort's pet snake, Nagini, is portrayed as a Dumeril's boa while a in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows she is portrayed as a Reticulated Python. Both of these snakes are non-venomous, using Constriction to kill their prey, while Nagini is venomous.
• There was a popular fan theory that Nagini and the snake from the zoo were the same, however this has been debunked by J. K. Rowling.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Briefly in flashback)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter (website) (Mentioned only)