Help Define these terms..

[Special_Ed]

This is just for fun, but I also do want to know what people mean when they say 'neonate', 'baby', 'juvenile' and 'adult' when referring to boas, especially when they are inquiring about a boa. How old, how young? Size? Other criteria?
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In your opinion.. what is the definition of a(n):
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1) Adult Boa constrictor.
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2) Juvenile Boa constrictor.
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3) Baby Boa constrictor.
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4) Neonate Boa constrictor.
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5) Sub-adult Boa constrictor.
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6) Other category?
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Thanks for your help.

[X-Factor]

I know I for one could use some enlightenment...

[sirens5]

1) Adult Boa constrictor. Of mating age with physical maturity to procreate.
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2) Juvenile Boa constrictor. Over 6 months but not old enough to procreate
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3) Baby Boa constrictor. Under 6 months
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4) Neonate Boa constrictor. Still in the egg
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5) Sub-adult Boa constrictor. another word for juvenile
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6) Other category? Hatchling? a newly hatched boa in the first days of life?

That would be my guesses.. Makes sense to me!:huh:

[X-Factor]

Originally Posted by sirens5

1) Adult Boa constrictor. Of mating age with physical maturity to procreate.
.
2) Juvenile Boa constrictor. Over 6 months but not old enough to procreate
.
3) Baby Boa constrictor. Under 6 months
.
4) Neonate Boa constrictor. Still in the egg
.
5) Sub-adult Boa constrictor. another word for juvenile
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6) Other category? Hatchling? a newly hatched boa in the first days of life?

That would be my guesses.. Makes sense to me!:huh:

But boas are live birthed....are they still referred to as hatchlings? I would have though this applied more to pythons.

[Special_Ed]

Originally Posted by X-Factor

But .....

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Hey! Give an answer yourself or take a break and give people a chance to answer, please. :laugh: Anyway, Siren's answers about hatching boas are technically correct.
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[sirens5]

oops didn't know they were live birthed lol that would mean a neonate was still in the mommy.

[sirens5]

So am I right wrong or half and half? And I never had anyone answer me once when I exposed my ignorance and asked what a percentage het meant..

[Special_Ed]

Originally Posted by sirens5

So am I right wrong or half and half? And I never had anyone answer me once when I exposed my ignorance and asked what a percentage het meant..

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You are technically correct about them being hatchlings. Boas are not viviparous (as a mammal as one example) their young are born from eggs. The female retains the eggs until it's time for them to hatch. The term for this is ovoviviparous. Reptiles that lay eggs the regular way are oviparous..
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As far as the het thing goes.. it's simple math.. but it's funny how many 66% het snakes people buy and no where near 66% of them turn out to be hets! :laugh:

[sirens5]

but what is het and please don't make me sit by the teacher..

[Special_Ed]

Originally Posted by sirens5

but what is het and please don't make me sit by the teacher..

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If it pleases the audience, we'll take this discusion of het (short for heterozygous) to the PM utility...