PUERTO RICAN BOA

ORDER

Squamata (amphisbaenians, lizards and snakes)

FAMILY

Boidae

HABITAT AND RANGE

This species is endemic (only exists) to Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rican boa is widely distributed on Puerto Rico and, although it is found in moist, wet, and rain forests it seems more abundant in the karst regions - forested limestone hill and cave area found on the northern coast of the island. Apparently this preferred habitat provides such features as wooded areas, rocky places, tree cavities, caves, forests, and forest edges which are important requirements of the boa. Boas utilize ground level retreats for sleeping during the day, and hunt most of their prey in nearby trees at night.

IDENTIFICATION

The color is somewhat variable but usually ranges from pale to dark brown, sometimes grayish, with 70 to 80 darker colored blotches along the back from neck to vent. These dorsal blotches are generally dark-bordered with the centers a lighter hew. Maximum size is approximately 6 –7 feet.

DIET

Puerto Rican Boas primarily forage at night. Adult boas can eat birds, including chickens, small mammals, lizards, and bats – catching them in mid-air by hanging over the opening of their cave as they fly out. Juvenile boas have been observed eating Anolis lizards and tree frogs.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

Puerto Rican boas are ovoviviparous. Most mating occurs at the beginning of the wet season (late April through May) and babies are born approximately 6 months later. Studies in captivity showed females could give birth to 23- 32 young. Only one clutch is born per year. The average lifespan for a Boa is 30 years.

NOTES

These boas have been on the Endangered Species list since 1970. Historic records indicate that during the first few centuries of Spanish colonization in Puerto Rico the boa was relatively abundant, and oil produced from the snake's fat was utilized extensively as an export. Some illegal hunting is apparently occurring at present for the snake's oil, which is used locally for medicinal purposes. Inornatus, the Latin name for the Puerto Rican Boa, means “unadorned” in reference to the boas bland gray to brown coloration Puerto Rican boas are the largest predator on the island, as adults their only enemy is man – hunting them for oil and being killed while basking on roads and highways. While young, their predators are mongooses, feral cats, native hawks, thrushes, thrashers, and cuckoos.