VISUAL differences pythons/boas

[FalconPunch]

I have a very hard to e telling them apart. I know the physiological difference between the two animals but there seems to be very little visually to separate the two. Best I've picked out, boas seem to have a more prominent rounding to the top of their head than pythons, but I pt this idea into action looking through a book and guessing, and the damn emerald boa was mistaken by yours truly for a gtp... haha I'm going to embarrass myself. Any tips?

[Anatopism]

Typically boas do not have heat pits on their jaws/lips. I say typically bc I think amazon tree boas do...but I'm on my phone and it doesn't always liketosearcg photos for me.

[Jessica Loesch]

emerald tree boas are more girthy than GTPs. Also, there are more colorations/localities in the GTP line. ETBs have larger teeth, largest of all nonvenomous. I also think the ETBs have more pitbull like heads in my opinion.

[Jessica Loesch]

yeah ETBs do have heat pits but they look diff IIRC

[FalconPunch]

Yea this is labeled emerald tree boa and those look like big 'ol heat pits. Its so confusing..



Pic from boas and pythons of the world by mark o'shea.

[Jessica Loesch]

and here is a GTP


taken from http://yamanote.hubpages.com/hub/Green-Tree-Pythons

heat pits look diff, eyes look diff, heads look diff ...just takes time i guess to recognize the features

[TheWinWizard]

As best as I can tell, Pythons usually have the heat pits and lay eggs, Boas usually don't have heat pits and are live bearers.

[Tim Mead]

often times a boa will "look" softer, a more satin look if you will.. Where as pythons have a "harder" glossier look to them..If you can imagine that..Often times a boas scalation is more granular (smaller) than the pythons..

[SamuraiZr0]

look at the heads it's a dead give away. boas are more rectangular and pythons are more rounded