Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor

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Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor
Tropidophis canus.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Tropidophiidae
Genus: Tropidophis
Species:
T. canus
Binomial name
Tropidophis canus
(Cope, 1868)
Synonyms [2]

The Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor (Tropidophis canus), also known as the Inagua trope or Bahama wood snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is endemic to Great Inagua Island in the Bahamas. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Description

Like all species of pygmy boas the Bahamian pygmy boa is a rather small snake averaging between 30 cm (12 in) and 60 cm (24 in) in total length. [3] [4] The snake has the ability to change color through the movement of its dark pigment granules. Depending on the time of the day, a light or dark color may provide better camouflage. [3] The Bahamian pygmy boa has a yellow-orange tail tip, which is likely used to lure unsuspecting prey. [3]

Behavior

The Bahamian pygmy boa is mostly inactive during daytime hours, usually coming out at night. [3] Most dwarf boas are terrestrial, meaning they live and breathe on earth, and rest underground or in vegetation. A few have adapted to being arboreal. [3] [4] Young boas live in trees and shrubs and feed mostly on anole lizards. Adult boas feed on frogs, birds and rats. [5] If threatened, the snake has been observed to coil up into a tight ball similar to that of a ball python. [3] On Andros Island the species is known as the "shame snake" because of this defensive tactic. [3] It also has the ability to voluntarily bleed from its eyes, mouth, and nostrils. [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 Buckner, S. (2019). "Tropidophis canus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T75606395A75607984. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T75606395A75607984.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Tropidophis canus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 10 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Snakes". Ardastra Zoological Gardens. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 Schwartz, Albert; Henderson, Robert W. (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. 720 pp. ISBN   0-8130-1049-7.
  5. ↑ "Bahamian Boa Constrictor".

Further reading

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