Boa Constrictor ( Boidae )

The boa constrictor is the perfect example of the gentle monster. While you may think that it is a vicious beast that swallows things in one gulp, but it isn't. It is usually a calm beast, and it isn't venomous in the least. It almost never attacks man. These are only stories. The boa constrictor actually flees when man comes near it, and only can really grow up to be about ten feet in length.

The boa constrictor does not eat things 5 times it's size in one gulp, and in fact, it's diet consists mostly of small birds, lizards, and small mammals. The boa constrictor attacks by creeping up on it's prey, and then, when the prey doesn't suspect a thing, it wraps itself around it's preys' body until it cannot breath and is suffocated. Then, it eats the animal headfirst and slowly digests it, taking a long time, sometimes even a week.

As the constrictor doesn't use a lot of energy, it can go for a long, long time without any food. The snake is commonly found in the treetops of the South American forests. If it feels threatened, it will flee slowly. It flees at about 1/3 of a mile per hour. Maybe that's why they get caught so frequently!