This boa is endemic to Madagascar. Its colour differs depending on its geographical spread: in the rainforests to the east of the island, the individuals are green, but in the drier forests of the west, they tend to be more orange. They also differ in size, those in the west being larger.

The Madagascar boa hunts at night. It uses special heat-sensitive labial pits located around its mouth which allow it to detect the heat generated by its prey.