外形特征
紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)全長(chang)(chang)1.8-3米(mi);重(zhong)量10-15公斤。雌性較大(da)(da)。個(ge)別(bie)人工飼養的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)殼長(chang)(chang)至3.7米(mi),重(zhong)45公斤。 成(cheng)年的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)體(ti)型大(da)(da)小差異(yi)頗大(da)(da),各亞(ya)種(zhong)的(de)(de)體(ti)型并不一(yi)致。分布于南(nan)美洲的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)身體(ti)較長(chang)(chang),目前在蘇里南(nan)有(you)兩條紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)是至今為(wei)止體(ti)型最巨大(da)(da)的(de)(de),分別(bie)是411厘(li)米(mi)及427厘(li)米(mi)長(chang)(chang)。然而(er)這(zhe)種(zhong)體(ti)型畢(bi)竟較罕見,一(yi)般而(er)言超過300厘(li)米(mi)長(chang)(chang)的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran),就此種(zhong)蛇(she)類(lei)而(er)言已算巨蛇(she)(大(da)(da)多都在250厘(li)米(mi)到300厘(li)米(mi))。紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)的(de)(de)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)巴(ba)相當有(you)力,能抓(zhua)緊東西。頭(tou)部并無熱能傳感頰窩。體(ti)色(se)(se)(se)方面(mian),紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)身體(ti)多以紅(hong)(hong)色(se)(se)(se)或棕色(se)(se)(se)為(wei)基調(diao),尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)部則呈磚紅(hong)(hong)色(se)(se)(se)。背部以褐黃色(se)(se)(se)的(de)(de)斑(ban)紋(wen)為(wei)主,尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)部的(de)(de)斑(ban)紋(wen)較為(wei)淺(qian)色(se)(se)(se)。 現(xian)今在人工培育下紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)已有(you)許多體(ti)色(se)(se)(se)表現(xian),如:白(bai)化、鮭色(se)(se)(se)。
生活習性
紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)蚺(ran)能適應多種(zhong)生態(tai)環(huan)境,由熱帶雨林(lin)至(zhi)干(gan)燥地區均(jun)能活躍。紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)蚺(ran)幼蛇會攀(pan)爬于(yu)林(lin)木或矮樹之間,但當它們(men)逐漸成長,隨著體重增加,會改為(wei)于(yu)地面行(xing)動為(wei)主。中美洲的(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)蚺(ran)性情較為(wei)暴躁,容易(yi)被觸怒并向敵人發出嘶叫聲,甚至(zhi)輕易(yi)作出咬(yao)擊;而(er)分布于(yu)南美洲的(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)蚺(ran),性情則(ze)較為(wei)溫馴。一般市面上所見(jian)的(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)蚺(ran)多是哥倫比(bi)亞紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)蚺(ran),變異(yi)品種(zhong)也多是以這個亞種(zhong)培育(yu)的(de)。紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)蚺(ran)的(de)捕(bu)獵(lie)(lie)對象甚眾(zhong),包括許多種(zhong)哺(bu)乳動物及(ji)鳥類(lei),當中尤(you)以鼠類(lei)為(wei)主。紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)蚺(ran)亦(yi)可能會捕(bu)食大(da)蜥蜴,甚至(zhi)大(da)如虎貓亦(yi)可能是它們(men)的(de)獵(lie)(lie)食對象之一。
生長繁殖
紅尾(wei)蚺是(shi)卵胎(tai)生,一(yi)胎(tai)可產下(xia)50只小蟒。他(ta)們通(tong)常(chang)會在(zai)旱季4月和8月之間進行(xing)交配,紅尾(wei)蚺屬(shu)于(yu)是(shi)一(yi)夫多妻制的卵胎(tai)生蛇類,孕期約(yue)100-120天,每產10-65條幼蛇(年齡(ling)越大繁殖(zhi)的數量就越多),通(tong)常(chang)在(zai)25條左(zuo)右,幼蛇長(chang)38-51厘米。3-4歲性成熟。紅尾(wei)蚺壽命可達20-30歲。
分布范圍
紅尾蚺主要分布于墨(mo)西哥(ge)北部、中美洲:伯利茲、危地馬拉、洪都拉斯、薩爾瓦多、尼加(jia)拉瓜、哥(ge)斯達(da)黎加(jia)及巴拿馬。
南美洲(zhou):哥倫比亞、厄(e)瓜(gua)多爾、秘魯、委(wei)內瑞(rui)拉(la)、圭亞那、蘇里南、法屬圭亞那、巴(ba)西、玻(bo)利維亞、烏拉(la)圭及阿根廷(ting),小安的(de)列斯群島(dao):多米尼(ni)加及圣盧西亞。