Conception Bank silver boa

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Conception Bank silver boa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Chilabothrus
Species:
C. argentum
Binomial name
Chilabothrus argentum
Reynolds et al., 2016 [2]

The Conception Bank silver boa (Chilabothrus argentum), also known as the Conception Bank boa or silver boa, is a species of boa [1] [3] described in May 2016 by a team of researchers from Harvard University led by Dr. R. Graham Reynolds. [2] [4] It is only known from the Conception Island Bank in the Bahamas. [1] It is the first known discovery of a West Indian boa species in 73 years. [4] It is named for its unique silver color and the fact that the first specimen was found in a silver palm. [2] It is the most endangered boa in the world, with fewer than 150 individuals in an area of just 5 hectares. [5]

Contents

Description

Conception Bank silver boas have silver to tan dorsal background coloration, with or without scattered dark brown scales. Ventral scales are pure cream-white. Juveniles undergo ontogenetic color change, from a light brownish-orange coloration with heavy patterning as neonates to the adult coloration around 400-500 mm snout-vent length. [6] They measure 88–103 cm (35–41 in) in snout–vent length and weigh 182–258 g (6.4–9.1 oz). Tail length varies between 18 and 21 cm (7.1 and 8.3 in). [2] There is one loreal scale, 275–282 ventral scales, 82–91 subcaudal scales,11–12 supralabial scales, and ten circumorbital scales. Males and females do not differ in the shape of their heads, although males might have slightly larger eyes relative to body size. [5]

Habitat and biology

The Conception Bank silver boa is largely arboreal and has been found in silver palm Coccothrinax argentata and gumbo-limbo Bursera simaruba . It is thought that the species mostly feeds on birds, with juveniles possibly feeding on Anolis sagrei lizards. [5] [6]

Conservation

The species is known from six individuals encountered in July 2015 by a research team from Harvard University, and from the type series of two individuals collected in October 2015. A total of 49 individuals have been observed by researchers between 2015 and 2017. [5]

It has been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is considered "Critically Endangered" [1] in view of its small area of occurrence as well as potential threats posed by introduced species, habitat loss, and (illegal) pet trade. [7] Some level of protection is offered by the Conception Island Bank being designated as a national park, and by the relative remoteness of the islands. [2] However, a daily satellite imagery study between 2016 and 2021 found that several hundred vessels visit Conception Island Bank yearly. [8]

The Conception Bank silver boa is a featured part of the story in T.C. Boyle's novel Blue Skies. [9] The discovery of the Silver Boa and researcher R. Graham Reynolds are featured in the book Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science. [10]

Media

The discovery of the Conception Bank silver boa was featured in global news media outlets, including National Geographic [11] , The Independent [12] , El Mundo [13] , BBC Science Focus [14] , Newsweek [15] , Scientific American [16] , and Atlas Obscura [17] .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boidae</span> Family of snakes

The Boidae, commonly known as boas or boids, are a family of nonvenomous snakes primarily found in the Americas, as well as Africa, Europe, Asia, and some Pacific islands. Boas include some of the world's largest snakes, with the green anaconda of South America being the heaviest and second-longest snake known; in general, adults are medium to large in size, with females usually larger than the males. Six subfamilies comprising 15 genera and 54 species are currently recognized.

<i>Boa</i> (genus) Genus of snakes

Boa is a genus of boas found in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Five extant species, and one extinct, are currently recognized.

<i>Chilabothrus exsul</i> Species of snake

Chilabothrus exsul, the Abaco Island boa or Northern Bahamas boa, is a boa species found in the Bahamas. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all other boas, it is not venomous.

<i>Corallus</i> Genus of snakes

Corallus, the neotropical tree boas, are a genus of boas found in Central America, South America and the West Indies. Nine extant species are recognized as of 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaican boa</span> Species of snake

The Jamaican boa, Jamaican yellow boa or yellow snake is a boa species endemic to Jamaica. No subspecies are recognized. Like all other boas, it is not venomous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rican boa</span> Species of reptile

The Puerto Rican boa, most commonly known as Culebrón, is a large species of boa endemic to Puerto Rico. It is a terrestrial and arboreal snake with a pale brown to dark brown coloration. It grows to 1.9 m (6.2 ft) in length. It feeds on small mammals such as rodents and bats, birds and sometimes anole lizards. Like most boas, it is viviparous and kills its prey using constriction.

Conception Island is an islet located in the Bahamas. It is 7–9 km2 (2.7–3.5 sq mi) and reaches 25 m (82 ft) above sea level. It is an important rookery for nesting seabirds and hatching site for green turtles. It is uninhabited and protected as part of the Conception Island National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amethystine python</span> Species of snake

The amethystine python, also known as the scrub python or sanca permata in Indonesian, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, and noted for its coloration and size, it is one of the largest snakes in the world, as measured either by length or weight, and is the largest native snake in Papua New Guinea. Until 2000, the larger S. kinghorni was generally considered a subspecies of S. amethistina, and this change of classification has still not been universally reflected in literature. Because of this issue, S. amethistina has often been described as the largest snake in Australia, but this is not accurate since under the current classification, this species does not occur in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban boa</span> Species of snake

The Cuban boa, also known as the Cuban tree boa and by locals as Majá de Santa María, is a very large species of snake in the family Boidae. With lengths exceeding 5 m (16 ft) and a relatively heavy build, the Cuban boa is one of the largest snakes in North America. The species is native to Cuba and some nearby islands. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Boa imperator</i> Species of snake

Boa imperator is a large and heavy-bodied arboreal species of nonvenomous, constrictor-type snake in the family Boidae. One of the most popular pet snakes in the world, B. imperator's native range is from Mexico through Central and South America, with local populations on several small Caribbean islands. It is commonly called the Central American boa, northern boa, Colombian boa, common boa and common northern boa.

<i>Chilabothrus</i> Genus of snakes

Chilabothrus, commonly known as the Greater Antillean boas or West Indian boas, is a genus of nonvenomous snakes the family Boidae. The genus is endemic to the West Indies. 12 or 14 species are recognized as being valid.

<i>Chilabothrus chrysogaster</i> Species of snake

Chilabothrus chrysogaster, commonly known as the Turks and Caicos Islands boa or the Southern Bahamas boa, is a species of snake found in the Southern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Local names include the rainbow boa, the Bahamas cat boa, the rainbow snake, and the fowl snake. Like all boids, it is not a venomous species.

<i>Chilabothrus fordii</i> Species of snake endemic to Hispaniola

Chilabothrus fordii, also known commonly as Ford's boa and the Haitian ground boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. There are three recognized subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boa constrictor</span> Species of snake

The boa constrictor, also known as the common boa, is a species of large, non-venomous, heavy-bodied snake that is frequently kept and bred in captivity. The boa constrictor is a member of the family Boidae. The species is native to tropical South America. A staple of private collections and public displays, its color pattern is highly variable yet distinctive. Four subspecies are recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booidea</span> Superfamily of snakes

The Booidea, also known as booid snakes, are a superfamily of snakes that contains boas and other closely related boa-like snakes. As of 2017, Booidea contains 61 species, including the eponymous neotropical Boa constrictor, anacondas, and smaller tree and rainbow boas as well as several genera of booid snakes from various locations around the world: bevel-nosed boas or keel-scaled boas (Candoia) from New Guinea and Melanesia, Old World sand boas (Eryx) from Northeast Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia, rubber boas (Charina) and rosy boas (Lichanura) from North America, neotropical dwarf boas (Ungaliophis) and the Oaxacan dwarf boa (Exiliboa) from Central America, Madagascan boas or Malagasy boas from Madagascar, and the Calabar python (Calabaria) from tropical West-Central Africa.

Invasive species are species that are native to foreign environments which may have important effects on a specific area's economy, ecosystem and infrastructure. These species can be introduced by natural causes or human intervention. There are many invasive species that exist around the world. One that is abundant around Puerto Rico is the lionfish. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) perform biosecurity inspections for Puerto Rico.

Chilabothrus schwartzi, also known as the Crooked-Acklins boa or Crooked Aklins boa, is a species of snake. It is endemic to the southern Bahamas, specifically to Crooked Island and Acklins. It was originally described as a subspecies of Epicrates chrysogaster, but it was elevated to full species status in 2018. In fact, molecular data suggest a closer relationship with Chilabothrus argentum than with Chilabothrus chrysogaster.

Chilabothrus granti, also known commonly as the Virgin Islands boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is native to the Caribbean.

<i>Chilabothrus strigilatus</i> Species of snake

Chilabothrus strigilatus, also known commonly as the Bahamian boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to the Bahamas. There are five recognized subspecies.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Reynolds, R.G. (2017). "Chilabothrus argentum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T118470875A118470877. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T118470875A118470877.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Reynolds, R. Graham; Puente-Rolón, Alberto R.; Geneva, Anthony J.; Aviles-Rodriguez, Kevin J. & Herrmann, Nicholas C. (2016). "Discovery of a remarkable new boa from the Conception Island Bank, Bahamas". Breviora. 549 (1): 1–19. doi:10.3099/brvo-549-00-1-19.1.
  3. ↑ Chilabothrus argentum at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Silver Boa: Scientists Discover New Snake Species in Bahamas". Sci-News.com. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Reynolds, R. Graham; Puente-Rolón, Alberto R.; Geneva, Anthony J. (August 2022). "Natural History and Morphometrics of the Newly Discovered and Critically Endangered Conception Bank Silver Boa (Chilabothrus argentum; Squamata; Boidae)". Caribbean Naturalist. 88: 1–20. ISSN   2326-7119.
  6. 1 2 Reynolds, R. Graham; Henderson, Robert W.; Díaz, Luis M.; Rodríguez-Cabrera, Tomás M.; Puente-Rolón, Alberto R. (March 15, 2023). Boas of the West Indies. Ithaca: Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN   9781501765452.
  7. ↑ "Silver Boa: the new treasure of the Bahamas". BBC Science Focus Magazine. 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
  8. ↑ Reynolds, R.G.; Cone, A. (November 2023). "Characterization of visitation of the remote Conception Island National Park using daily satellite imagery". PARKS The International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation. 29 (2): 105–113.
  9. ↑ Boyle, T. C. (May 16, 2023). Blue Skies. Liveright. ISBN   978-1324093022.
  10. ↑ Nye, Bill (2020). Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science. Gregory Mone. New York, NY: Abrams, Inc. ISBN   978-1-4197-4676-5.
  11. ↑ "New Species of Silver Snake Is Extremely Endangered". Animals. 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  12. ↑ "Scientists discover beautiful new snake – and it's already endangered". The Independent. 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  13. ↑ "Una nueva boa de color plata". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2016-05-27. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  14. ↑ "Silver Boa: the new treasure of the Bahamas". BBC Science Focus Magazine. 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  15. ↑ Shilling, Erik (2016-05-27). "A Previously Undiscovered Boa Constrictor Has Been Found". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  16. ↑ Platt, John R. "Shiny, Metallic Snake Is a Critically Endangered New Species". Scientific American. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  17. ↑ Shilling, Erik (2016-05-27). "A Previously Undiscovered Boa Constrictor Has Been Found". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
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