外形特征
紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)全長1.8-3米(mi)(mi)(mi);重量10-15公(gong)斤(jin)。雌性較(jiao)大(da)(da)。個別人工飼養的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)殼長至3.7米(mi)(mi)(mi),重45公(gong)斤(jin)。 成年的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)體型大(da)(da)小差異(yi)頗大(da)(da),各亞(ya)種(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)體型并不(bu)一(yi)(yi)致。分(fen)布(bu)于南美(mei)洲的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)身(shen)體較(jiao)長,目前在蘇里南有兩條紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)是至今(jin)為止體型最巨大(da)(da)的(de)(de),分(fen)別是411厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)及427厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)長。然而這種(zhong)(zhong)體型畢竟較(jiao)罕見,一(yi)(yi)般而言超(chao)過300厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)長的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran),就此種(zhong)(zhong)蛇(she)類(lei)而言已算巨蛇(she)(大(da)(da)多都(dou)在250厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)到300厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi))。紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)的(de)(de)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)巴相當(dang)有力,能抓緊東西。頭部并無熱(re)能傳(chuan)感頰窩。體色(se)方面,紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)身(shen)體多以(yi)紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)或棕色(se)為基調,尾(wei)(wei)(wei)部則呈(cheng)磚紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)色(se)。背部以(yi)褐黃(huang)色(se)的(de)(de)斑(ban)紋為主,尾(wei)(wei)(wei)部的(de)(de)斑(ban)紋較(jiao)為淺色(se)。 現今(jin)在人工培育下紅(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)已有許多體色(se)表現,如(ru):白化、鮭色(se)。
生活習性
紅(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)能(neng)適應多(duo)種(zhong)生(sheng)態(tai)環境,由熱帶雨林(lin)至干燥地(di)(di)區均(jun)能(neng)活躍。紅(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)幼(you)蛇會(hui)(hui)攀爬于林(lin)木(mu)或矮樹之間,但當(dang)它們逐漸成長(chang),隨著體重增加(jia),會(hui)(hui)改(gai)為(wei)于地(di)(di)面(mian)行動為(wei)主。中美(mei)洲(zhou)的紅(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)性情較(jiao)(jiao)為(wei)暴躁,容易被觸怒(nu)并向敵(di)人(ren)發(fa)出(chu)嘶(si)叫聲,甚(shen)(shen)至輕易作出(chu)咬擊;而分布(bu)于南(nan)美(mei)洲(zhou)的紅(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran),性情則較(jiao)(jiao)為(wei)溫(wen)馴(xun)。一(yi)般市面(mian)上(shang)所見的紅(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)多(duo)是(shi)(shi)哥倫比亞紅(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran),變異品(pin)種(zhong)也多(duo)是(shi)(shi)以這(zhe)個亞種(zhong)培育的。紅(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)的捕獵(lie)對象甚(shen)(shen)眾,包(bao)括許(xu)多(duo)種(zhong)哺乳(ru)動物及鳥類,當(dang)中尤(you)以鼠(shu)類為(wei)主。紅(hong)尾(wei)(wei)(wei)蚺(ran)(ran)(ran)(ran)亦可能(neng)會(hui)(hui)捕食大(da)蜥(xi)蜴,甚(shen)(shen)至大(da)如虎貓亦可能(neng)是(shi)(shi)它們的獵(lie)食對象之一(yi)。
生長繁殖
紅尾蚺(ran)是(shi)卵(luan)(luan)胎(tai)(tai)生,一(yi)胎(tai)(tai)可產(chan)下50只(zhi)小(xiao)蟒。他們(men)通常會在(zai)旱季4月和8月之間進行(xing)交(jiao)配,紅尾蚺(ran)屬于是(shi)一(yi)夫多妻(qi)制的(de)卵(luan)(luan)胎(tai)(tai)生蛇(she)(she)(she)類,孕(yun)期(qi)約(yue)100-120天,每產(chan)10-65條幼蛇(she)(she)(she)(年齡越大繁殖(zhi)的(de)數量就越多),通常在(zai)25條左右,幼蛇(she)(she)(she)長38-51厘米。3-4歲(sui)性成熟。紅尾蚺(ran)壽命可達(da)20-30歲(sui)。
分布范圍
紅尾蚺主要分布(bu)于墨(mo)西哥(ge)北部、中美洲:伯(bo)利(li)茲、危地馬(ma)拉、洪都拉斯、薩爾瓦多、尼加(jia)拉瓜(gua)、哥(ge)斯達黎加(jia)及巴拿馬(ma)。
南美洲:哥倫比亞(ya)、厄瓜多(duo)爾、秘魯、委內瑞拉(la)、圭亞(ya)那、蘇(su)里南、法屬圭亞(ya)那、巴西、玻(bo)利維亞(ya)、烏(wu)拉(la)圭及阿(a)根廷,小(xiao)安的列斯群島(dao):多(duo)米(mi)尼加(jia)及圣盧西亞(ya)。