I recaptured two adult females for 20 straight years at one of my study sites called Chapman. One of the adult females of about 22 3/4' was young when first captured and could have been anywhere from about 7 to 12 years of age, possibly more.

However, the second female appeared much older and was around 24 1/2 inches when captured in 1971. (too lazy to look up the data)
In 1991 I had 20 years of growth records for both specimens when the site was trashed. But I expect that the younger female was anywhere from about 27 to 39 years old when last seen. Only have some idea of how a life table is constructed but by applying what I know about estimated mean growth rates for various size classes, I believe the larger females was in her 50's and perphaps much older when last seen.

Then there is another female I call Raab female #1 which I also captured at a different site in 1971 when she was 27 1/2". Now one has to use known data on growth from mean size at birth (about 10" locally) to approx. minimum length at sexual maturity of about 22", then from that length to mean length of the adult sample which locally is about 25 5/8", then again based on growth data of larger adults, the mean time it might take to grow from 25 5/" to 27 1/2".

I released and recaptured that specimen a fair number of times.
In 1983 the boas started to dissapear from the Raab site so I translocated the few remaining boas I could find, including Raab female #1, to a wildlife area 12 mile north. I did not see Raab female in 1984 but then recaptured her at least once each year from 1985 to 1989. She had established a new home territory but was always thin so I picked her up to retain her that year. I transferred her to my son Ryan who is maintaining her. At that time she was about 29 1/4 or 29 1/2" as I recall.

I estimate at a minimum she was was in her 40's when first captured in 1971 but more likely in her 50's, perhaps older. She is still alive here in late 2004. She produced a brood about 4 years ago or so.

Richard F. Hoyer

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