Boa constrictor  The boa constrictor ("Boa constrictor"), also called the red-tailed boa or the common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the family Boidae, found in tropical North, Central, and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Nine subspecies are currently recognized, although some of these are controversial. This article focuses on the species "Boa constrictor" as a whole, and on the nominate subspecies "B. c. constrictor". Though all boids are constrictors, only this species is properly referred to as a "boa constrictor" – a rare instance of an animal having the same common English name and scientific binomial name. (Another such animal is the extinct theropod dinosaur "Tyrannosaurus rex".) All subspecies are referred to as "boa constrictors", while the nominate subspecies, "B. c. constrictor", is often referred to specifically as the "red-tailed boa". Within the exotic pet trade, it is also known as a "BCC", an abbreviation of its scientific name, to distinguish it from other boa species such as "B. imperator", which is also regularly, and erroneously, referred to as a "red-tailed boa" or "common boa". Other common names include "chij-chan" (Mayan), "jiboia" (Latin American), and "macajuel" (Trinidadian). The boa constrictor is a large snake, although it is only modestly sized in comparison to other large snakes, such as the reticulated python and Burmese python, and can reach lengths from depending on the locality and the availability of suitable prey. Clear sexual dimorphism is seen in the species, with females generally being larger in both length and girth than males. The usual size of mature female boas is between whereas males are . Females commonly exceed , particularly in captivity, where lengths up to or even can be seen. The largest documented non-stretched dry skin is deposited at Zoologische Staatssammlung München (ZSM 4961/2012) and measures 14.6 ft (4.45 m) without head.