Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor

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Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor
Tropidophis canus.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES)
Scientific classification edit
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]
  • Ungalia cana
    Cope, 1868
  • Tropidophis canus
    — Schwartz & , 1991

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

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]

References[]

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Tropidophis canus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 10 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Snakes". Ardastra Zoological Gardens. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  4. ^ a b c 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[]

  • Bailey JR (1937). "A review of some recent Tropidophis material". Proc. New England Zool. Club 16: 41-52. (Tropidophis pardalis barbouri, new subspecies, p. 49).
  • Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Boidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Ungalia cana, p. 114).
  • Cope ED (1868). "An examination of the REPTILIA and BATRACHIA obtained by the Orton Expedition to Equador [sic] and the Upper Amazon, with notes on other Species". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 20: 96-140. (Ungalia cana, new species, p. 129).
  • Garman S (1887). "On West Indian Reptiles in the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy, at Cambridge, Mass." Proc. American Philosoph. Soc. 24: 278-286. (Ungualia curta, new species, p. 279).
  • Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Tropidophis canus, pp. 191–192).
  • Stull OG (1928). "A Revision of the Genus Tropidophis ". Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan (195): 1-52. (Tropidophis pardalis androsi, new subspecies, pp. 34–35).

External links[]

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