BCI vs BCC Confussion

MajickSprings · 05-24-04, 10:58 PM

I just got my new book in the mail today and had started reading it when I got stuck on page 4. The book is The Boa Constrictor Manual (copyright date 1998). Here's what I'm confused about:

Quote:

GENERALLY RECOGNIZED BY ALL
Common boa constrictor Boa constrictor imperator
Red-tailed boa constrictor Boa constrictor constrictor

My question is this...

I've been told my red-tail boa is a BCI. How can she be a BCI if the red-tailed boa constrictors are BCC's??

BoidKeeper · 05-25-04, 04:50 AM

Because many people miss use the term Red-Tail and apply it to both common and true red tail boas. That's the difference, whether or not you have a "true" red tail boa. Another mistake people make is they assume that "common" boas are Colombian boas. Common boas refers not only to the Colombian (BCI) but to all BCI boas.
It is best to use the terms BCI and BCC and then to break it down even further by local. For example, I own a 0.1 Colombian BIC and a Hog Island Boa BCI. I wish I had a Peruvian BCC.
Hope this helps,
Trevor

MajickSprings · 05-25-04, 08:28 AM

Hmmm...I'm still confused LOL
Later in the book (page 34) it shows some pictures and under those pictures it says:

Quote:

The popular Colombian boa constrictors Boa constrictor imperator) of the pet trade originated west of the Andes. Most were collected from an area known as the Magdalena River Valley and shipped out of Baranquilla. They should not be confused with Colombian red-tailed boas [i](Boa Constrictor constrictor) which are found east of the Andes, have higher scale counts and fewer dorsal blotches.

I'm really trying to understand but I'm having a hard time with this.

So if my snake is a BCI then she's just a Colombian boa constrictor or is she a Colombian red-tail boa?

M_surinamensis · 05-25-04, 08:35 AM

Difficulties with common names...

"Red Tailed Boa" was originally used to describe Boa constrictor constrictor the name sounded good, sounded sharp and cool and snazzy... So many people selling boas in the states started slapping the label on every Boa constrictor, regardless of subspecies. Neonate BCI sure do have bright red tails much of the time... don't keep it as they age, but more neonates are sold than adults. It has reached a point where the common name has become very muddled, applied broadly to every Boa constrictor. Is it right? Probably not... Is it reality? These days, yes.

This means that many BCI are sold as being red tails. The term wasn't originally intended to be applied to the subspecies, but it sounds better than "Common boa" and at this point arguing about it's validity in common application is kinda useless semantics.

MajickSprings · 05-25-04, 08:56 AM

So as my baby grows her tail color will fade? Thus proving she's a BCI and not a BCC?

(I really hope none of you are thinking of me as stupid...I'm just trying to understand LOL)

M_surinamensis · 05-25-04, 09:44 AM

The majority of mainland BCI turn a duller brownish color as they age. The body darkens up where it is gray, the red on the tail fades to a kind of maroonish-brownish brick red or fully brown.

MajickSprings · 05-25-04, 10:03 AM

Thanks!

MajickSprings · 05-25-04, 10:05 AM

Oh...I forgot to ask...

When talking about ventral scales, midbody scales and dorsal blotches where exactly do you start counting and what exactly are you counting?

M_surinamensis · 05-25-04, 12:03 PM

Ventral scales are the scales on the underside of your snake, after the head and before the anal plate(s).

Midbody scales are those on the dorsal surface essentially counted from the spine down to the edges of the ventral scales either in lines like this...

<1<<<<<
<<2<<<<
<<<3<<<
<<<<4<<
<<<<<5<

Or like this...

<<1<<<<
<<<2<<<
<<3<<<<
<<<4<<<
<<5<<<<

The counts will produce the same results either way, just a question of how you feel like doing so.

Dorsal blotches... I'm assuming it's reffering to the saddles or possibly the spaces between them but it's not a term I personally use.