Boidae, commonly known as boas, is a family of large, non-venomous constrictor snakes distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia and some Pacific islands.

All members of Boidae share typical features: They are powerful constrictors that kill prey by wrapping their muscular bodies around it and squeezing until suffocation. Most species have sturdy bodies, smooth scales, and many retain small vestigial pelvic bones and tiny hind limb spurs, which are evolutionary remnants from ancient lizard ancestors.

Famous species in the Boidae family include:

Boidae snakes rely on their sharp heat-sensing scales around the mouth to detect warm-blooded prey such as mammals, birds and reptiles. Unlike venomous snakes from Elapidae or Viperidae, boas have no fangs and no venom, and they swallow their prey whole.