The Nosy Komba ground boa (Sanzinia volontany) is a boa species endemic to the island of Madagascar. It is brownish in colour and is found on the western side of the island. It was once considered conspecific with the Madagascar tree boa. Like all other boas, it is not venomous.

Nosy Komba ground boa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Sanzinia
Species:
S. volontany
Binomial name
Sanzinia volontany
Vences & Glaw, 2004
Synonyms
  • Sanzinia madagascariensis volontany

Distribution and habitat

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Endemic to Madagascar. The type locality given is "Madagascar".

Feeding

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Arboreal and generally nocturnal, it feeds on mammals and birds. Its thermoreceptive pits help it to locate its prey. It will also leave the trees to actively hunt for small mammals on the ground.[1] It favors trees and shrubs near streams, rivers, ponds and swamps.[2]

References

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  1. ^ McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  2. ^ Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
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