Changes: Boa constrictor

Revision as of 07:08, 21 September 2017

"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"

The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts.

"Point me!"
This article is about the species in general. You may be looking for the Boa constrictor at the Zoo.

"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.^[src]

Boa constrictor (binomial name Boa constrictor) is a large, heavy-bodied species of snake. It is a member of the family Boidae found in North, Central, and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean. A staple of private collections and public displays, its colour pattern is highly variable yet distinctive.^[2]

On 23 June, 1991, Parselmouth Harry Potter spoke to a boa constrictor from Brazil. He unknowingly used underage magic by making the pen's glass vanish, freeing the boa. The boa then told him "Brazil, here I come. Thanks, amigo".^[3]

Behind the scenes

NaginiGF — 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 python from Burma, and so is the mention of it in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
In the film, the snake blinks multiple times 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, in flashback, Nagini, Voldemort's pet snake, is portrayed as a Dumeril's Ground Boa which also goes by the name boa constrictor. A Reticulated Python portrayal replaced this in the last two films.
Because they look alike, especially in the films, there was a rumour that JK Rowling stated that the Boa Constrictor at the zoo and Nagini are the same snake. However, this is not true.

Appearances

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (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

Notes and references

↑ Pottermore
↑ Boa Constrictor at Wikipedia
↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 2 (The Vanishing Glass)

[1] Pottermore

[wikipedia-2] Boa Constrictor at Wikipedia

[PS2-3] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 2 (The Vanishing Glass)

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 *Also in the film, after the boa is freed the glass reappears trapping [[Dudley Dursley|Dudley]] on the inside of the pen.
 *In the [[Harry Potter (film series)|film adaptions]] of {{GOF}}, {{OOTP}} and {{HBP}}, in flashback, [[Nagini]], [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]'s pet snake, is portrayed as a Dumeril's Ground Boa which also goes by the name boa constrictor. A [[Python|Reticulated Python]] portrayal replaced this in the last two films.
-* Because they look alike, especially in the films, there was a rumor that JK Rowling stated that the Boa Constrictor at the zoo and Nagini are the same snake. However, this is not true.
+* Because they look alike, especially in the films, there was a rumour that JK Rowling stated that the Boa Constrictor at the zoo and Nagini are the same snake. However, this is not true.
 ==Appearances==