To constrict means to compress or squeeze tightly. For a boa constrictor, it means squeezing the snake’s prey, or victim, so tightly its blood can’t flow through its body.
Birds, rats, monkeys, and wild pigs all make tasty meals for a boa constrictor. Its small, hooked teeth grab and hold its prey while the snake wraps its body around it. When the prey is lifeless, the snake swallows it whole. Strong stomach acids digest the food. Fur, skin, bones, and all. After a meal, the boa may not eat again for weeks.
