Amazon Tree-Boa (Corallus hortulana)

Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Boidae | Corallus hortulana

English common names: Amazon Tree-Boa, Common Tree Boa, Garden Tree Boa.

Spanish common names: Boa amazónica de jardín, boa arborícola amazónica, boa de los jardines (Ecuador); boa arborícola (Bolivia); boa arborícola del amazonas, macabrel (Colombia); boa arborícola amazónica (Peru).

Recognition: ♂♂ 164.3 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. ♀♀ 187.6 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail..^1,2 Corallus hortulana differs from other Amazonian snakes by having a triangular-shaped head, heat-sensitive pits on the lips, and a prehensile tail.^3,4 This species is polychromatic (Fig. 1). Dorsally, it presents a variable background coloration (yellow, gray, greenish gray, brown, taupe, pink, orange tan, reddish brown, or black) with a series of dorsoventrally arranged ellipsoid spots, which may be dark brown, yellow, or cream.^3–6 The venter may present dark spots on a background color that can be white, cream, gray, brown, or reddish brown.^2–5 In Ecuador, similar snakes that may be found living alongside C. hortulana are C. batesii and Epicrates cenchria. Corallus batesii differs from C. hortulana because this species has a green (orange-red in juveniles)⁷ dorsum with enamel-white markings.⁸ Epicrates cenchria has an iridescent orangish dorsum and rounded spots with dark edges.⁴

Figure showing an adult individual of Corallus hortulana

Figure 1: Individuals of Corallus hortulana: Río Cuyabeno, Sucumbíos province, Ecuador (); Suchipakari Lodge, Napo province, Ecuador (); Palmarí, Amazonas state, Brazil (); Sani Lodge, Sucumbíos province, Ecuador (). ad=adult, j=juvenile.

Natural history: Corallus hortulana is the most commonly seen boa in the Ecuadorian Amazon.⁹ It is an arboreal snake that inhabits old growth to moderately disturbed rainforests, which may be terra-firme or seasonally flooded.^2,4,6–12 The species also occurs in human-modified habitats and can even enter human dwellings located near the forest.⁹ Amazon Tree-Boas use vegetation between 0.3 and 25 m above the ground and are particularly abundant along the margins of rivers and streams.^4,6–14 Despite this, individuals can occasionally be found at ground level.⁴ Corallus hortulana has nocturnal habits, with greater activity during moonless nights and between sunset and midnight, with the majority of this time spent foraging.^3,6,13,15 During the day, these boas can be observed coiled with the head hidden among body coils, resting on shaded vegetation, in hollow logs, or in the thatch of roofs.^4,9,13,14 In Ecuador, an individual was recorded active during the morning (10:00 am) eating a prey,¹⁶ and in Brazil one individual was observed at 2:00 pm basking in the sun.¹⁷ Also, in Brazil two individuals were observed mating during the day.¹⁴

Corallus hortulana uses active foraging as well as sit-and-wait strategies to capture prey, though the latter approach seems to be more common in adults.^4,15,18 This snake is euryphagic, which means it consumes a broad array of prey items. Its diet is composed of anurans (mostly treefrogs),¹⁹ lizards (anoles, basilisks,⁴ Iguana iguana, tropic lizards, and whiptails such as Ameiva ameiva),¹⁹ birds, and mammals (marsupials, bats, primates, porcupines, and rodents).^4,15–20 Likewise, it has been suggested that this snake occasionally consumes fish.²¹ Ontogenetic changes in diet have been documented for the species, in which juveniles and sub-adults feed on anurans, lizards, birds, and mammals, while adults consume only birds and mammals.^18,19,22 There are records of crocodilians (Melanosuchus niger and Paleosuchus trigonatus),¹⁵ hawks,⁹ and owls²³ preying upon Amazon Tree-Boas. When threatened, individuals usually make an S-coil and strike.^4,17 When manipulated, they can adopt a “protective ball posture,” as well as contract and rotate the body, regurgitate prey, and expel cloacal discharges.^3,4,12,15

The reproductive season of Corallus hortulana can vary between locations. There are records of mating in May (in captivity),²⁴ June,¹⁴ July,²⁵ and September.^14,26 Birth events having been reported from January to June, and in November.^27,28 During copulation, the male entangles about 30% of its body around the female and performs movements with its head, including rubbing the chin against the female’s neck and head.²⁶ In captivity, two males copulated for ~37 minutes with a female, without engaging in combat.²⁴ After a gestation period of 6–7 months, females “give birth” (the eggs hatch within the mother) to 2–29 young that measure 28.2–64.4 cm in total length.^24,27–29 After birth, females may eat some of their young.²⁹ Under human care, individuals can live up to 15 years.³⁰

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Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..^31–33 Corallus hortulana is listed in this category because it is widely distributed, occurs in numerous protected areas, has a relatively large and stable populations, and is facing no major immediate extinction threats.³¹ However, this species can be particularly susceptible to large-scale deforestation, since it requires arboreal vegetation to survive.³¹ In addition, wild individuals of C. hortulana are marketed as pets, which is why the species is included in Appendix II of CITES.^31,34,35

Distribution: Corallus hortulana is native to an area of approximately 207,837 km² throughout the Amazon basin in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador (Fig. 2), French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.³⁶

Figure 2: Distribution of Corallus hortulana in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Etymology: The generic name Corallus comes from the old French word coral, which was the name given to dangerous savage and barbaric peoples in ancient times.^37,38 This term refers to the fierce and perfidious appearance of the species of the genus, among which the anterior teeth of the maxilla and mandible stand out, which are longer than the posterior teeth.³⁸ The specific epithet hortulana is a Latin word meaning “garden”.³⁷ It refers to the dorsal coloration, reminiscent of a flowerbed.³⁸

See it in the wild: Amazon Tree-Boas can be located at a rate of about once every few nights in forest areas throughout their area of distribution in Ecuador. The localities having the greatest number of observations in Ecuador are Río Cuyabeno, Napo Wildlife Center, Sani Lodge, and Yasuní Scientific Station.

Special thanks to Chantelle Derez for symbolically adopting the Amazon Tree-Boa and helping bring the Reptiles of Ecuador book project to life.

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Authors: Juan Acosta-Ortiz,^aAffiliation: Universidad de los Llanos. Villavicencio, Colombia. Andrés F. Aponte-Gutiérrez,^bAffiliation: Grupo de Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Instituto de Genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.^,^cAffiliation: Fundación Biodiversa Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. and Leonardo Niño-Cárdenas^dAffiliation: Laboratorio de Anfibios, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.

Editor: Alejandro Arteaga^eAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.

Photographers: Jose Vieira^eAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.^,^fAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador. and Sebastián Di Doménico^gAffiliation: Keeping Nature, Bogotá, Colombia.

How to cite? Acosta-Ortiz J, Aponte-Gutiérrez A, Niño-Cárdenas L (2024) Amazon Tree-Boa (Corallus hortulana). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/PANR5535

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Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Corallus hortulana in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.

Country	Province	Locality	Source
Colombia	Caquetá	Belén de los Andaquíes, 3 km NW of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Colombia	Putumayo	Puerto Asís	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Cusuime	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Miazal	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Nayumbime	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Río Cusuime	Henderson et al. 2009
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Santiago de Tiwintza	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Napo	Gareno Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Napo	Huaorani Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Jatun Sacha Biological Station	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Napo	Río Payamino	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Napo	Sinchi Sacha	Photo by Ernesto Arbeláez
Ecuador	Napo	Suchipakari Lodge	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Napo	Yachana Reserve	Whitworth & Beirne 2011
Ecuador	Orellana	Campo NPF	Photo by Paulina Romero
Ecuador	Orellana	Campo Yuturi, 7 km NW of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Coca	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Cominudad Shuar Nunkui y Kunkut	Yanez-Muñoz et al. 2017
Ecuador	Orellana	Cononaco	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Dícaro, 24 km downstream from, on Río Yasuní	María José Quiroz, pers. comm.
Ecuador	Orellana	ECY–Tiputini 1	Photo by Francisco Sornoza
Ecuador	Orellana	ECY, 2 km SE of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	ECY, 8 km NW of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	El Edén Amazon Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Inés Arango	Henderson 1997
Ecuador	Orellana	Ishpingo Pakcha, 5 km NE of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Loreto	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Los Laureles	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Ñoneno (Ñuneno)	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	NPF, 5 km W of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Nuevo Rocafuerte	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	NWC, senderos	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Río Añangu	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Río Yasuní, near lake Jatuncocha	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	San José de Payamino	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Shiripuno Lodge	Photo by Fernando Vaca
Ecuador	Orellana	TBS, 70 downstream from	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Tiputini Biodiversity Station	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Tres de Noviembre	Henderson 1997
Ecuador	Orellana	Via Pompeya South–Iro, km 77	Photo by Morley Read
Ecuador	Orellana	Vía Pompeya Sur–Iro, Km 90	Photo by Morley Read
Ecuador	Orellana	Yarina Eco Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Yasuní Scientific Station	Yanez-Muñoz et al. 2017
Ecuador	Pastaza	Alto Curaray	Henderson 1997
Ecuador	Pastaza	Arajuno, 7 km NE of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Pastaza	Balsaura	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Campo Villano	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Pastaza	Comunidad Puka Yaku	Freddy Velásquez, pers. comm.
Ecuador	Pastaza	Curaray Medio	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Pastaza	Juyuintza	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Kurintza	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Lorocachi	Online multimedia
Ecuador	Pastaza	Montalvo	Henderson 1997
Ecuador	Pastaza	Pavacachi	USNM 204091; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Pindoyacu	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Chambira	Henderson 1997
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Rutuno	USNM 204093; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Tigre	USNM 204092; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Sarayacu	Henderson 1997
Ecuador	Pastaza	Villano, 7 km NE of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Adhán Payahüaje	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Aguas Negras Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Batallón Tungurahua	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Caiman Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Casa Payaguaje, 3 km NW of	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Centinela	OMNH 36516.0; VertNet
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Cofán Bermejo Ecological Reserve	Yanez-Muñoz et al. 2017
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Comunidad Sani Isla	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Comunidad Zábalo, 5.6 km E of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Cuyabeno River Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Dureno	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Dureno, 10 km N of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Garzacocha	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Heron Lake, 1.2 km N of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	La Selva Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Lago Agrio	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Laguna Grande	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Laguna Grande, 1.3 km S of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Limoncocha Biological Reserve	Henderson 1997
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Limoncocha, 2 km NW of	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Loracachi	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Napo Wildlife Center	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Nicky Amazon Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Pañacocha	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Parque Recreativo Lago Agrio	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Piranha Ecolodge	Online multimedia
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Playas del Cuyabeno	UIMNH 61194; VertNet
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Providencia, 2.5 km NE of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Reserva Cuyabeno, near Ecuador-Peru border	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Aguarico	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Aguarico, near mouth of Río Pacuyacu	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Cuyabeno	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Cuyabeno, near Amazon Dolphin Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Cuyabeno, near Hot Spots lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Cuyabeno, near Piranha Ecolodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Cuyabeno, nearby Bamboo Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Güeppi	Yanez-Muñoz et al. 2017
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Zábalo	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Zábalo camp	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sacha Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sani Lodge	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Santa Cecilia	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sector Tarsipao II	Yanez-Muñoz et al. 2017
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Shushufindi, 4 km N of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Tapir lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Peru	Amazonas	El Cenepa	USNM 316565; VertNet
Peru	Amazonas	Río Santiago	USNM 566706; VertNet
Peru	Loreto	Pastaza	Henderson 1997
Peru	Loreto	Puerto Cavero	iNaturalist; photo examined
Peru	Loreto	Río Lagartococha	USNM 521053; VertNet
Peru	Loreto	Teniente Manuel Clavero	Henderson 1997