Round Island burrowing boa

Last updated

Round Island burrowing boa
Bolyeria multocarinata.jpg
Status iucn3.1 EX.svg
Extinct  (1974)  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
CITES Appendix I (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Bolyeriidae
Genus: Bolyeria
Gray, 1842
Species:
B. multocarinata
Binomial name
Bolyeria multocarinata
(F. Boie, 1827)
Synonyms

  • Eryx Multocarinata
    F. Boie, 1827
  • Tortrix Pseudo-Eryx
    Schlegel, 1837
    (typographical error)
  • Bolyeria Pseudo-Eryx
    — Gray, 1842
  • Platygaster multicarinatus
    A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844
  • Bolyeria multicarinata
    — Gray, 1849
  • Bolieria multicarinata
    — Boulenger, 1893
  • Bolyeria multocarinata
    Stimson, 1969 [3]

The Round Island burrowing boa (Bolyeria multocarinata) [1] is an extinct species of snake, in the monotypic genus Bolyeria, in the family Bolyeriidae. The species, which was endemic to Mauritius, [4] was last seen on Round Island in 1975. There are no recognized subspecies. [5]

Contents

Description

B. multocarinata reached about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in total length (including tail). Preserved specimens have been reported as having total lengths of 54–140 cm (1.77–4.59 ft). Its colour was described as light brown with blackish spots dorsally, and pink marbled with blackish ventrally. It had a pointed snout with a cylindrical body and head. Its general body form suggests that the Round Island burrowing boa had fossorial tendencies. This species' closest living relative is the Round Island boa (Casarea dussumieri).[ citation needed ]

Geographic range

The Round Island burrowing boa had an extremely small range of only 1.5 square kilometres (0.58 sq mi). Its habitats were hardwood forests and palm savanna. In the past it was found in Mauritius on Gunner's Quoin, Flat Island, Round Island, and Ile de la Passe. [3] It survived the longest on Round Island, where it was last recorded. [3] [6] The type locality given is "Port Jackson" (in error). [3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of B. multocarinata was forest. [1]

Diet

The diet of B. multocarinata is unknown, but it is thought to have eaten lizards and their eggs, as well as the chicks and eggs of ground-nesting and burrowing seabirds. [1]

Reproduction

B. multocarinata was oviparous. [7] Clutch size was about five eggs. [1]

Conservation status

The species Bolyeria multocarinata is classified as Extinct (EX) on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (v2.3, 1994). [1] It was already rare by 1949 and was last seen by conservationists in 1974. Reasons for its extinction are habitat loss caused by soil erosion due to overgrazing by goats and rabbits and heavily persecuted by early settlers. [6]

Related Research Articles

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

The Bolyeriidae are a family of snakes native to Mauritius and a few islands around it, especially Round Island. They also used to be found on the island of Mauritius, but were extirpated there due to human influence and foraging pigs in particular. These snakes used to be placed in the Boidae, but are now classed as a separate family. Two monotypic genera are recognized, but only a single species is extant. Bolyeriidae appear to be most closely related to the Asian genus Xenophidion.

<i>Xenopeltis</i> Genus of snakes

Xenopeltis, the sunbeam snakes, are the sole genus of the monotypic family Xenopeltidae, the species of which are found in Southeast Asia. Sunbeam snakes are known for their highly iridescent scales. Three species are recognized, each one with no subspecies. Studies of DNA suggest that the xenopeltids are most closely related to the Mexican burrowing python and to the true pythons (Pythonidae).

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

The Calabar python is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to West and Central Africa. It is the only species in its genus.

<i>Eryx johnii</i> Species of snake

Eryx johnii is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is native to Iran, Pakistan, and India. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid.

<i>Eryx conicus</i> Species of reptile

Eryx conicus is a species of non-venomous snake in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. The species is native to southern Asia. No subspecies are recognised as being valid.

<i>Eryx</i> (snake) Genus of snakes

Eryx is a genus of nonvenomous snakes, commonly known as Old World sand boas, in the subfamily Erycinae of the family Boidae. Species of the genus are found in southeastern Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, and southwestern Asia. Thirteen species are recognized as being valid.

<i>Acrantophis madagascariensis</i> Species of snake

Acrantophis madagascariensis is a species of boid snake in the subfamily Sanziniinae that is endemic to the island of Madagascar. Its common names include the Madagascar ground boa and Malagasy ground boa.

Eryx elegans is a boa species endemic to western Central Asia. Like all other boas, it is not venomous. No subspecies are recognized.

<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.

<i>Tropidophis</i> Genus of snakes

Tropidophis, common name Caribbean dwarf boas, wood snakes or West Indian wood snakes, is a genus of dwarf boas endemic to the West Indies and South America. Currently, either 17 or 33 species are recognized, depending on the authority.

<i>Corallus cookii</i> Species of snake

Corallus cookii, also known as Cook's tree boa or Cooke's tree boa, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. There are no recognized subspecies.

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

The Round Island boa, also known commonly as the Round Island keel-scaled boa and the Round Island ground boa, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the monotypic genus Casarea in the family Bolyeriidae. The species is endemic to Round Island, Mauritius. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Eryx colubrinus</i> Species of snake

Eryx colubrinus, the Egyptian or Kenyan sand boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to Northern and Eastern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized.

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

The olive python is a species of snake in the family Pythonidae. The species is endemic to Australia. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Candoia bibroni</i> Species of snake

Candoia bibroni—commonly known as Bibron's bevel-nosed boa, Bibron's keel-scaled boa, the Pacific tree boa or the Fiji boa—is a species of boa, a group of non-venomous, constricting snakes, endemic to the southern Pacific Ocean island chains of Melanesia and Polynesia. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies, described here. Candoia bibroni is one of the most isolated and far-removed species of boid snakes on earth, as the majority of boa species are found in the Americas and the Caribbean, or, in the case of the terrestrial sand boas, in Africa and Eurasia.

<i>Trachyboa gularis</i> Species of snake

Trachyboa gularis, commonly known as the Ecuadorian eyelash boa, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Tropidophiidae. It is endemic to Ecuador, and is only known from an area where suitable habitat has been almost completely destroyed. Recent confirmed records are also lacking, and the IUCN has concluded that Trachyboa gularis is a possibly extinct species.

<i>Tropidophis taczanowskyi</i> Species of snake

Tropidophis taczanowskyi, also known commonly as Taczanowski's dwarf boa, is a species of snake in the family Tropidophiidae. The species is native to northern South America.

<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.

<i>Eryx jayakari</i> Species of snake

Eryx jayakari, known commonly as the Arabian sand boa or Jayakar's sand boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula and Iran where it spends the day buried in the sand.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cole, N. (2021). "Bolyeria multocarinata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T2864A13483086. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T2864A13483086.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré TA (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN   1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN   1-893777-01-4 (volume).
  4. "Bolyeria". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  5. "Bolyeria multocarinata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 18 August 2007.
  6. 1 2 Day, David (1981). The Doomsday Book of Animals. (Foreword by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh). London: Ebury Press. 288 pp. ISBN   0-670-27987-0
  7. Bolyeria multocarinata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database

Further reading