Boa eques; Print; Boa imperator is a nonvenomous boa species of large; heavy-bodied snake that is commonly kept in captivity. Boa imperator is part of the family Boidae and is found in Mexico; Central America and South America west of the Andes Mountains (primarily Colombia). It is commonly called the northern boa; Colombian boa and common northern boa and is frequently and erroneously referred to as the red-tailed boa or Colombian red-tailed boa; especially in the pet trade.; 1700-1880