外形特征
紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)全長(chang)(chang)1.8-3米(mi)(mi);重量10-15公(gong)(gong)斤。雌性較大。個(ge)別(bie)人工(gong)(gong)飼(si)養的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)殼長(chang)(chang)至(zhi)3.7米(mi)(mi),重45公(gong)(gong)斤。 成年的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)體(ti)(ti)型大小差(cha)異頗(po)大,各亞種(zhong)的(de)(de)體(ti)(ti)型并(bing)不一(yi)致(zhi)。分布于南(nan)美洲(zhou)的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)身體(ti)(ti)較長(chang)(chang),目前在(zai)蘇里南(nan)有兩條紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)是(shi)至(zhi)今為止體(ti)(ti)型最巨(ju)大的(de)(de),分別(bie)是(shi)411厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)及427厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)長(chang)(chang)。然而(er)這種(zhong)體(ti)(ti)型畢(bi)竟(jing)較罕見,一(yi)般而(er)言超過300厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)長(chang)(chang)的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran),就此種(zhong)蛇類而(er)言已(yi)算巨(ju)蛇(大多(duo)都在(zai)250厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)到300厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi))。紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)的(de)(de)尾(wei)(wei)巴相當有力,能抓緊東西。頭部(bu)(bu)并(bing)無熱能傳(chuan)感(gan)頰窩(wo)。體(ti)(ti)色(se)方面,紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)身體(ti)(ti)多(duo)以(yi)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)或棕色(se)為基(ji)調(diao),尾(wei)(wei)部(bu)(bu)則呈磚紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)。背部(bu)(bu)以(yi)褐黃色(se)的(de)(de)斑紋(wen)為主,尾(wei)(wei)部(bu)(bu)的(de)(de)斑紋(wen)較為淺色(se)。 現今在(zai)人工(gong)(gong)培育(yu)下紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)已(yi)有許多(duo)體(ti)(ti)色(se)表現,如:白化、鮭色(se)。
生活習性
紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)能(neng)適應(ying)多(duo)(duo)(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)生(sheng)態(tai)環境,由(you)熱帶雨林至干燥地區均能(neng)活躍。紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)幼蛇(she)會(hui)攀爬于林木或矮(ai)樹(shu)之(zhi)間(jian),但當它們(men)逐漸成(cheng)長,隨著體重增加(jia),會(hui)改為(wei)于地面行動為(wei)主。中美(mei)洲(zhou)的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)性情(qing)較為(wei)暴躁,容易(yi)(yi)被觸怒并向敵人發(fa)出嘶叫(jiao)聲,甚(shen)至輕易(yi)(yi)作出咬擊;而分布于南美(mei)洲(zhou)的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran),性情(qing)則較為(wei)溫馴。一般市面上所見的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)多(duo)(duo)(duo)是哥倫比(bi)亞紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran),變異品種(zhong)(zhong)也多(duo)(duo)(duo)是以這(zhe)個亞種(zhong)(zhong)培育的(de)(de)。紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)的(de)(de)捕(bu)(bu)獵對象甚(shen)眾(zhong),包(bao)括許多(duo)(duo)(duo)種(zhong)(zhong)哺乳動物(wu)及鳥類,當中尤以鼠類為(wei)主。紅(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)亦(yi)可(ke)(ke)能(neng)會(hui)捕(bu)(bu)食大蜥蜴,甚(shen)至大如虎貓亦(yi)可(ke)(ke)能(neng)是它們(men)的(de)(de)獵食對象之(zhi)一。
生長繁殖
紅尾蚺是(shi)卵(luan)胎生,一胎可(ke)產(chan)下50只小(xiao)蟒。他(ta)們通常會(hui)在(zai)旱季4月和8月之間進行交配,紅尾蚺屬(shu)于是(shi)一夫多妻制的(de)卵(luan)胎生蛇類,孕期約(yue)100-120天,每(mei)產(chan)10-65條幼蛇(年齡(ling)越(yue)大繁殖的(de)數量就越(yue)多),通常在(zai)25條左右,幼蛇長38-51厘米。3-4歲性(xing)成(cheng)熟。紅尾蚺壽(shou)命可(ke)達20-30歲。
分布范圍
紅尾(wei)蚺(ran)主要(yao)分布于墨西哥北(bei)部、中美洲:伯(bo)利茲(zi)、危地(di)馬(ma)拉(la)(la)、洪都拉(la)(la)斯、薩爾瓦多、尼(ni)加(jia)拉(la)(la)瓜、哥斯達黎加(jia)及(ji)巴拿馬(ma)。
南美(mei)洲:哥倫比(bi)亞(ya)、厄(e)瓜多爾、秘魯、委內瑞(rui)拉、圭(gui)亞(ya)那(nei)、蘇里(li)南、法屬圭(gui)亞(ya)那(nei)、巴(ba)西、玻利維亞(ya)、烏拉圭(gui)及阿根(gen)廷,小安的列斯群島:多米尼加及圣盧(lu)西亞(ya)。