physical traits

The Honduran Firebelly stands out for its vividly colored red or orange scales on the underside, often extending along the sides, making a striking contrast against its typically dark brown or gray back. Another remarkable feature is its bright red or ruby irises—a rarity among Boa imperator, who usually have brown or black eyes. Additionally, Firebelly boas demonstrate unique insular dwarfism, with females generally reaching about 1.52 meters (5 feet) in length, although some exceptional specimens can grow up to 1.83 meters (6 feet). This is significantly smaller than mainland females, which often exceed 2.13 meters (7 feet). It’s worth noting that not all Firebelly boas show these features consistently, especially in the earlier generations. Variations in eye coloration are seen as well, with some individuals sporting subtler red tones.

Here are some close ups and comparisons against a normal Columbian imperator.