Amazon Tree Boa

Corallus hortulana

A slender, many-colored tree boa of South America that hangs from branches in an S shape to ambush prey.

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About the Amazon Tree Boa

Amazon tree boas, also called garden tree boas, are usually 47 to 59 inches long and come in many colors and patterns. They live in humid forests, savannas and dry forests across the Amazon region and nearby areas. They mostly stay in trees but sometimes come to the ground, and eat birds, bats, frogs, rodents, lizards and opossums.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Corallus hortulana^[2]
Size: Usually 47 to 59 inches long.^[1]
Diet: Carnivore. Birds, bats, frogs, rodents, lizards and marsupials.^[1]
Habitat: Humid forests, savannas and dry forests.^[1]
Where it lives: The Amazon region of South America, plus Trinidad and Tobago.^[1]
Babies: Live young after 6 to 8 months.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2013).^[2]

Fun facts

Amazon tree boas come in many different colors.^[1]
They hunt both by sight and by sensing heat.^[1]
They're also called garden tree boas.^[1]

Vocabulary

ambush: To hide and wait, then attack by surprise.
constrictor: A snake that kills prey by wrapping around it and squeezing.
arboreal: Living mostly in trees.
infrared: Heat energy that can't be seen but can be sensed.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

San Francisco Zoo & GardensSan Francisco, California · ReptilesSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
Oakland ZooOakland, California · Reptile and Amphibian Discovery RoomSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Amazon tree boa.” https://www.sfzoo.org/amazon-tree-boa/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Corallus hortulana (Amazon Tree Boa).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/203210/2762194 (accessed 2026-10-02)