Visual differences

[Emily Hubbard]

I absolutely could not tell the difference between a GTP and and ETB, so don't feel bad. The only boa and python species I can identify are the obvious ones, balls, burms, retics, BRB, boa constrictors... (and actually, telling the difference between a burm and a retic is hard for me when they are young) when it gets to some of the less common ones, I have trouble too, and I think unless you own/ breed them, are a credentialed herpetologist, or have an outstanding memory, it's pretty hard to know EVERYTHING. I think knowing the scientific differences is impressive enough, and probably all you need to know to not be embarrassed.

The most glaring differences are reproduction and geography. Pythons: egg layers from Africa, Asia, and Australia. Boas: Life bearers from the Americas. Of course, nature has no absolutes, so there are exceptions to every rule.

[Missy King]

wow those photos are ridiculous *lol* i had a lot of trouble a year ago too...totally the same thing. One clue i use, is a majority of boas have a "hitler mustache" kind of, on the end of their nose above their mouth.
Their heads are more arrow shaped.

Balls definitely have more ball shaped heads!

Okay, i am also still learning. Here's an okay one.

http://www.peteducation.com/article....+1831&aid=3289

One thing i have noticed, is that the BOAs have the tips of their tails that are different shades, whereas the pythons will have a solid color the same as whatever their body is (right guys? yeah? lol)

[Missy King]

oh and gosh i don't think i've ever won an ultimatum with the hubby *lol* i am pretty easy going though so i think i've only ever put my foot down for like one thing, and i don't remember what it was. I tell him he's lucky to have me =P
Besides, i'm way more likely than him to be bringing home the snakes....i got a sand boa three days ago and a pixie frog today *lmao*

[cmack91]

the easiest way for me to tell a GTP from an ETB is this:

[Vypyrz]

The main difference between boas and pythons is internal. With the exception of a very few species, boas give live birth to litters, babies are called neonates. Pythons lay clutches of eggs, babies are called hatchlings.

The head scale difference between the GTP and ETB is a good visual indicator. I didn't notice that. I always tell the difference by looking at the nostrils. The GTP has more prominent nostrils, high on their nose. ETB's have smaller nostrils, lower on the front. Here is the complex mathmatical formula that I use to remember them:

P = Python = Prominent nostrils.
B = Boa = little Booger holes.

[Valentine Pirate]

B = Boa = little Booger holes.

This cracked me up! But very useful way of remembering!

[Rogue628]

SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS HARD FOR ME

ETB


GTP



If it weren't for that stripe on the boa, they'd be almost indistinguishable. And not all of them have such prominent striping.

I never noticed that! I always have problems distinguishing these two. Thanks!

Don't feel bad. I've been keeping snakes for years and can't tell the difference between the alot of the different colubrids....milks, kings, and corn mainly....nor the different garter snakes. I've never been much of a colubrid person, always loved pythons the most, but I've been learning how to distinguish them little by little. It's more of looking at the different ones constantly. I've had a couple of kingsnakes but never took enough interest in them to know the difference between a milk, king, or corn.

And there's so many ball python morphs, it boggles my mind how some people can look at them and know what it is at a glance, especially when it's two that are very similar in pattern and color. I'm slowly learning the morphs to most pythons now.

[Rogue628]

the easiest way for me to tell a GTP from an ETB is this:

Another great distinguishable trait shared! Thanks!

[decensored]

I was at a local reptile store today and went over to the arboreal snakes to test out the above comparison. It was awesome! Thanks for the link, I looked smart for once when I was chatting with other people in the store! LOL

[Alexandra V]

The way I see it most of the time with boas vs. pythons is that boas tend to have much longer, more angular lines to them in terms of body shape and build, as well as face shape, where as pythons tend to be (not always, but very often) more rounded and compact.

For instance, an example of an angular boa head (BCI... I think?):
http://www.petcareland.com/wp-conten...ailed-boa1.jpg

A more rounded boa head (Dumeril's boa):
http://www.dumerilboa.com/images/dumeril_boa_head.jpg

An angular python head (Blood python):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...rongersmai.jpg

A rounded python head (GTP):
http://image.shutterstock.com/displa...hot-308607.jpg

While both groups have species with more angular and more rotund features, the boas always have that kind of pointy look to them while they pythons always seem to have that more blunted look to them... I don't know if you see what I'm talking about, I'm notoriously bad at explaining these kinds of things it makes sense in my head, but not necessarily in words.