tropidophis bucculentus was a nonvenomous dwarf boa species endemic to navassa island .

no subspecies are currently recognized .

it is commonly referred to as the navassa island dwarf boa .

tropidophis bucculentus

ungalia bucculenta cope 1868 : 129 tropidophis bucculentus — bailey 1937 tropidophis melanurus bucculentus — schwartz & henderson 1988 tropidophis bucculentus — hedges 2002 tropidophis bucculentus — wallach et al . 2014 : 752
found on a tiny island located between haiti and cuba , the navassa island dwarf boa ( tropidophis bucculentus ) was last collected roughly 100 years ago . it is another probable victim of introduced wildlife .
boa melanura schlegel 1837 : 399 tropidophis melanurus — bibron in de la sagra 1840 : 208 tropidophis melanurus — duméril & bibron 1844 : 491 tropidophis melanurus — jan 1864 ungualia [ sic ] melanura — garman 1887 : 278 ungalia melanura — boulenger 1893 : 111 tropidophis melanurus melanurus — schwartz & ogren 1956 tropidophis melanurus — schwartz & henderson 1991 : 638 tropidophis melanurus — mattison 1995 : 112 tropidophis melanurus — mcdiarmid , campbell & touré 1999 : 220 tropidophis melanurus — mattison 2007 : 137 tropidophis melanurus — wallach et al . 2014 : 754 tropidophis melanurus dysodes schwartz & thomas , 1960 tropidophis melanurus dysodes — schwartz & henderson 1988 tropidophis melanurus dysodes — powell & henderson 2012 tropidophis melanurus ericksoni schwartz & thomas , 1960 tropidophis melanurus ericksoni — schwartz & henderson 1988 tropidophis melanurus ericksoni — powell & henderson 2012
no species of tropidophiidae is listed on the 2002 iucn red list . in the 1990s , the navassa woodsnake , tropidophis bucculentus , was reported as likely extinct . habitat disturbance and mongoose predation are reported to be significant factors in the demise of this species .
subspecies : tropidophis melanurus bucculentus cope , 1868 has been elevated to full species status . for illustrations see cooper , 1958 ; schwartz and thomas , 1960 ; petzold , 1963 ; petzold , 1969 ; schwartz and henderson , 1985 . type species : boa melanura schlegel 1837 : 399 is the type species of the genus tropidophis bibron 1840 .
despite their relatively small size and secretive nature , some species may be susceptible to extirpation , mainly due to habitat alteration and introduced feral animals . the navassa island dwarf boa , t . bucculentus , has not been seen for 100 years and is believed to be extinct .
tropidophis feicki schwartz , 1957 , cuéva de los índios , san vícente , pínar del río province , cuba .
thomas , r . 1963 . cayman islands tropidophis ( reptilia , serpentes ) . breviora 195 : 1 - 8
the smallest woodsnake species is probably tropidophis fuscus of cuba ; it is not known to exceed 12 in ( 30 cm ) . the largest species is tropidophis melanurus of cuba , with a reported maximum length of 41 in ( 106 cm ) .
schwartz , a . 1975 . variation in the antillean boid snake tropidophis haetianus cope . journal of herpetology 9 : 303 - 311
sjöbeck , anders 1992 . breeding tropidophis melanurus melanurus in captivity . litteratura serpentium 12 ( 4 ) : 97 - 99 - get paper here
brongersma , l . 1951 . some notes upon the anatomy of tropidophis and trachyboa ( serpentes ) . zoologische mededelingen 31 : 107 - 124
battersby , j . 1938 . lxiv . —some snakes of the genus tropidophis . the annals and magazine of natural history 1 : 557 - 560
schwartz , a . 1957 . a new species of boa ( genus tropidophis ) from western cuba . american museum novitates 1839 : 1 - 8
bailey , j . r . 1937 . a review of some recent tropidophis material . proc . new england zool . club 16 : 41 - 52 .
stull , o . g . 1928 . a revision of the genus tropidophis . occasional papers of the museum of zoology university of michigan 195 : 1 - 49
fong , a . 2005 . variation in and natural history notes on tropidophis fuscus ( serpentes : tropidophiidae ) from cuba . herpetological review 36 : 118 - 119 .
iturriaga , m . 2014 . autohemorrhaging behavior in the cuban dwarf boa tropidophis melanurus schlegel , 1837 ( serpentes : tropidophiidae ) . herpetology notes 7 : 339 - 341
rehák , i . 1987 . color change in the snake tropidophis feicki ( reptilia : squamata : tropidophidae ) . vestnk ceskoslovenske spolecnosti zoologicke 51 : 300 - 303 .
brongersma , l . d . 1951 . some notes upon the anatomy of tropidophis and trachyboa ( serpentes ) . zoologische mededelingen 31 : 107 - 124 - get paper here
hedges , s . b . , a . estrada , and l . diaz . 1999 . new snake ( tropidophis ) from western cuba . copeia 1999 : 376 - 381
iverson , j . b . 1986 . notes on the natural history of the caicos islands dwarf boa , tropidophis greenwayi . caribbean journal of science 22 : 191 - 198 .
iturriaga , manuel 2014 . autohemorrhaging behavior in the cuban dwarf boa tropidophis melanurus schlegel , 1837 ( serpentes : tropidophiidae ) . herpetology notes 7 : 339 - 341 - get paper here
tropidophis , common name wood snake or west indian wood snake , is a genus of dwarf boas endemic to the west indies and south america . currently , 17 species are recognized .
stull , olive griffith .
a revision of the genus tropidophis .
occasional papers of the museum of zoology , no . 135 ( october 1 , 1928 ) : 1–51 .
hedges , s . b . and o . h . garrido . 1992 . a new species of tropidophis from cuba ( serpentes : tropidophiidae ) . copeia 1992 : 820 - 825
schwartz , albert .
a new species of boa ( genus tropidophis ) from western cuba .
american museum novitates , no . 1839 ( august 19 , 1957 ) : 1–8 .
hedges , s . b . and o . h . garrido . 2002 . a new snake of the genus tropidophis ( tropidophiidae ) from eastern cuba . journal of herpetology 36 : 157–161
hedges , s . b . and o . h . garrido . 1999 . a new snake of the genus tropidophis ( tropidophiidae ) from central cuba . journal of herpetology 33 : 436 - 441
hedges , s . blair , alberto r . estrada and luis m . diaz 1999 . new snake ( tropidophis ) from western cuba . copeia 1999 ( 2 ) : 376 - 381 - get paper here
torres , j . , o . j . torres , and r . marrero . 2013 . autohemorrage in tropidophis xanthogaster ( serpentes : tropidophiidae ) from guanahacabibes , cuba . herpetology notes 6 : 579 - 581
hedges , s . b . 2002 . morphological variation and the definition of species in the snake genus tropidophis ( serpentes , tropidophiidae ) . bulletin of the natural history museum . zoology series 68 : 83 - 90
hedges , s . b . and o . h . garrido . 1992 . a new species of tropidophis from cuba ( serpentes : tropidophiidae ) . copeia 1992 ( 4 ) : 820 - 825 - get paper here
there are few snake fossils that can be incontrovertibly identified as woodsnakes . the fossil genus boavus dating from the eocene may belong to the tropidophiidae . more recent fossils identified as tropidophis are known from pleistocene deposits in caves .
schwartz , a . and thomas , r . 1960 . four new snakes ( tropidophis , dromicus , alsophis ) from the isla de pinos and cuba . herpetologica 16 ( 2 ) : 73 - 90 . - get paper here
hecht , m . k . , v . walters , and g . ramm . 1955 . observations on the natural history of the bahaman pigmy boa , tropidophis pardalis , with notes on autohemorrhage . copeia 1955 : 249 - 251
petzold , h . g . 1963 . über die kubanische zwergboa tropidophis melanurus ( schlegel ) , eine selten importierte schlange . aquar . - und terrar . - zeitschr . ( datz ) 16 ( 1 ) : 16 - 20 .
torres , javier ; carlos pérez - penichet and orlando torres . 2014 . predation attempt by tropidophis melanurus ( serpentes , tropidophiidae ) on anolis porcus ( sauria , dactyloidae ) . herpetology notes 7 : 527 - 529 - get paper here
the tropidophiidae has been well investigated and is relatively well - known . however , it is a widely distributed lineage that may be more speciose than is currently recognized . it seems likely that future phylogenetic analyses based on genetic characters will recognize some subspecies and some disjunct populations as new species . two species , tropidophis celiae and tropidophis spiritus , were described as recently as 1999 . the asian genus xenophidion was recognized in 1996 , and tentatively placed in the tropidophiidae in 2001 .
torres , j . , c . pérez - penichet , and o . torres . 2014 . predation attempt by tropidophis melanurus ( serpentes , tropidophiidae ) on anolis porcus ( sauria , dactyloidae ) . herpetology notes 7 : 527 - 529
fong g , ansel , irelis bignotte giró , karell maure garcía 2013 . unsuccessful predation on the toad peltophryne peltocephala ( bufonidae ) by the cuban snake tropidophis melanurus ( tropidophiidae ) . herpetology notes 6 : 73 - 75 - get paper here
schwartz , a . and r . j . marsh . 1960 . a review of the pardalis - maculatus complex of the boid genus tropidophis of the west indies . bulletin of the museum of comparative zoology at harvard college 123 : 49 - 84
hedges , s . b . , o . h . garrido , and l . m . diaz . 2001 . a new banded snake of the genus tropidophis ( tropidophiidae ) from north - central cuba . journal of herpetology 35 : 615 - 617
freiberg m . 1982 . snakes of south america . hong kong : t . f . h . publications . 189 pp . isbn 0 - 87666 - 912 - 7 . ( genus tropidophis , pp . 44 , 80 , 88 , 188 ) .
schwartz , albert , and robert j . marsh .
a review of the pardalis - maculatus complex of the boid genus tropidophis of the west indies .
bulletin of the museum of comparative zoology 123 , no . 2 ( 1960 ) : 49–89 .
rivalta , v . , a . gonzález , and l . rodríguez . 2013 . collection of herpetology of the institute of ecology and systematics , la habana , cuba . family tropidophiidae , genus tropidophis . revista colombiana de ciencia animal 5 : 282 - 300
hedges , s . b . 2002 . morphological variation and the definition of species in the snake genus tropidophis ( serpentes , tropidophiidae ) . bull . nat . hist . mus . london ( zool . ) 68 ( 2 ) : 83 - 90 - get paper here
domínguez , michel ; luis v . moreno , s . blair hedges ( august 2006 ) .
a new snake of the genus tropidophis ( tropidophiidae ) from the guanahacabibes peninsula of western cuba
. amphibia - reptilia 27 : 427–432 . doi : 10 . 1163 / 156853806778190088 .
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 . ( 12 species of tropidophis , pp . 191 - 196 ) .
as is typical of most macrostomatan snakes , most tropidophiid species have the vestiges of a pelvic girdle and cloacal spurs . however , in the tropidophiidae , only male snakes have the vestigial pelvic girdle and cloacal spurs ; tropidophis semicinctus and both species of xenophidion do not have the pelvic girdle and spurs .
rodríguez - cabrera , tomás m . ; josé rosado , ruben marrero , and javier torres 2017 . birds in the diet of snakes in the genus tropidophis ( tropidophiidae ) : do prey items in museum specimens always reflect reliable data ? ircf reptiles & amphibians 24 ( 1 ) : 61–64 - get paper here
some authors recognize three distinct lineages within the tropidophiidae , namely the tropidophiinae comprised of the genera tropidophis and trachyboa ; the ungaliophiinae comprised of ungaliophis and exiliboa ; and the xenophidiinae with xenophidion . it has been proposed that each of the three lineages should be recognized as a family . future investigations will undoubtedly address and resolve the relationships of these genera .
tropidophis feicki has the ability to change color to a slight degree , turning darker during the day and paler at night . the skin of several smooth - scaled taxa of woodsnakes exhibits iridescence ; the large flat scales of exiliboa placata are both shiny and iridescent , while the smaller ruggedly keeled scales of trachyboa gularis give a drab and dusty appearance .
bibron g . 1843 . in : de la sagra r . 1843 . historia fisica , politica y natural de la isla de cuba . segunda parte historia natural . tomo iv . reptiles y peces . paris : bertrand . 255 pp . + plates i - v . ( tropidophis , new genus , p . 124 ) . ( in spanish ) .
most tropidophiid species are found at lower elevations from sea level to 2 , 000 ft ( less than 600 m ) . two species are found at high elevation : exiliboa placata is found at elevations of 7 , 500 ft ( 2 , 300 m ) and tropidophis taczanowskyi occurs in the northern andes at elevations of 6 , 500–10 , 000 ft ( 2 , 000–3 , 000 m ) .
curcio , f . f . , p . m . sales nunes , a . j . s . argolo , g . skuk , and m . t . rodrigues . 2012 . taxonomy of the south american dwarf boas of the genus tropidophis bibron , 1840 , with the description of two new species from the atlantic forest ( serpentes : tropidophiidae ) . herpetological monographs 26 : 80 - 121
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 . ( genus ungalia [ = tropidophis ] , p . 110 ) .
most woodsnakes and the spinejaw snakes are colored in shades of browns and grays , patterned with muted small blotches or stripes . there is a wide range of variation in the keels on dorsal scales in the genus tropidophis ; some species have individuals with smooth dorsal scales and others with strongly keeled dorsal scales . the incredibly rough , keeled , and spiky scalation of trachyboa boulengeri makes it one of the most unusual snakes in the world .
woodsnakes tend to be nocturnal , but they are often encountered moving or basking during the day . faced with a perceived threat , most woodsnakes meekly coil into a ball ; trachyboa coils into a flat disk with its head in the center . if physically molested , a woodsnake may release odiferous anal secretions . it is rare that any woodsnake bites in defense . several species of tropidophis are reported to autohemorrhage , spontaneously bleeding from the mouth , nostrils , and eyes when severely stressed .
the tropidophiidae is distributed from southeastern brazil to southern mexico and the west indies . the genus tropidophis is the most widespread , with three species found in south america and 15 species in the west indies . the genus trachyboa occurs from the choco region of panama south into ecuador . ungaliophis is found from the state of chiapas in southern mexico south to the pacific coast of colombia . exiliboa is known only from two mountain ranges in oaxaca , mexico . xenophidion is known from peninsular malaysia and northern borneo .
most tropidophiid snakes are terrestrial , but many are occasionally observed to climb into bushes , vines , and low trees . the bromeliad woodsnakes , ungaliophis panamensis and ungaliophis continentalis , are probably the most arboreal of the woodsnakes ; both species are known to live high in trees , burrowing in the epiphytic growth on large limbs ; u . panamensis has been accidentally shipped to europe and the united states in bunches of bananas . tropidophis paucisquamis also has been observed climbing in vegetation 3–10 ft ( 1–3 m ) above the ground .
these snakes — along with their closest relative , the oaxacan dwarf boa ( exiliboa placata ) — have been in taxonomic disarray when you look at the history of new world dwarf boas . generally they are placed with the caribbean dwarf boas of the tropidophis genus and the eyelash boas ( trachyboa spp . ) in the family tropidophiidae , but they have invariably been placed within the boidae family at times . however , ungaliophis and exiliboa currently are recognized as distinct from the other two genera of dwarf boas , and they have been allocated to a separate family : the ungaliophiidae .
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uetz , p . & jirí hosek ( eds . ) , the reptile database , ( http : / / www . reptile - database . org )
bulletin of the natural history museum , london . zoology series , vol . 68 , no . 2
disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
for illustrations see cooper , 1958 ; schwartz and thomas , 1960 ; petzold , 196 ; petzold , 1969 ; schwartz and henderson , 1985 . size : max . svl : 60 mm in males , 596 mm in females .
boulenger , g . a . 1893 . catalogue of the snakes in the british museum ( nat . hist . ) i . london ( taylor & francis ) , 448 pp . - get paper here
cooper , j . e . 1958 . ascent to cueva del aura . maryland nat . 28 ( 1 - 4 ) : 2 - 16 .
duméril , a . m . c . and g . bibron . 1837 . erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complete des reptiles . vol . 4 . libr . encyclopédique roret , paris , 570 pp . - get paper here
duméril , a . m . c . and g . bibron . 1844 . erpetologie générale ou histoire naturelle complete des reptiles . vol . 6 . libr . encyclopédique roret , paris , 609 pp . - get paper here
estrada , a . r . 1998 . anfibios y reptiles encontrados durante 1988 y 1989 en cayo paredón grande , archipiélago de sabana - camagüey , cuba . carib . j . sci . 34 ( 1 - 2 ) : 106 - 112
garman , s . 1887 . on west indian reptiles in the museum of comparative zoology at cambridge , mass . proc . amer . philos . soc . 24 : 278 - 286 . - get paper here
gower , d . ; garrett , k . & stafford , p . 2012 . snakes . firefly books , buffalo , ny , < br / > 144 p . .
jan , g . 1864 . iconographie générale des ophidiens . 5 . livraison . j . b . bailière et fils , paris - get paper here
mattison , chris 1995 . the encyclopedia of snakes . new york : facts on file , 256 pp .
mcdiarmid , r . w . ; campbell , j . a . & touré , t . a . 1999 . snake species of the world . vol . 1 . herpetologists’ league , 511 pp .
petzold , h . g . 1969 . zur haltung and fortpflanzungsbiologieeiniger kubanischer schlangen im tierpark berlin . salamandra 5 : 124 - 40 - get paper here
rodríguez schettino , lourdes , carlos a . mancina & vilma rivalta gonzález 2013 . reptiles of cuba : checklist and geographic distributions . smithsonian herp . inf . serv . ( 144 ) : 1 - 96 - get paper here
schlegel , h . 1837 . essai sur la physionomie des serpens . partie descriptive . la haye ( j . kips , j . hz . et w . p . van stockum ) , 606 s . + xvi - get paper here
schwartz , a . & henderson , r . w . 1991 . amphibians and reptiles of the west indies . university of florida press , gainesville , 720 pp .
schwartz , a . and henderson , r . w . 1985 . a guide to the identification of the amphibians and reptiles of the west indies exclusive of hispaniola . milwaukee public mus . , 165 pp .
schwartz , a . and ogren , l . h . 1956 . a collection of reptiles and amphibians from cuba , with the descriptionof two new forms . herpetologica 12 ( 2 ) : 91 - 110 - get paper here
seung hoon , cha 2012 . snake , the world most beautifull curve [ in korean ] . hownext , 304 pp . [ isbn 978 - 89 - 965656 - 7 - 3 ] - get paper here
wallach , van ; kenneth l . williams , jeff boundy 2014 . snakes of the world : a catalogue of living and extinct species . taylor and francis , crc press , 1237 pp .
zaher , hussam 1994 . les tropidopheoidea ( serpentes ; alethinophidia ) sont - ils réellement monophylétiques ? arguments en faveur de leur polyphylétisme . comptes rendus de l academie des sciences serie iii - sciences de la vie - life sciences 317 ( 5 ) : 471 - 478
this database is maintained by peter uetz ( database content ) and jakob hallermann , zoological museum hamburg ( new species and updates ) .
melanurus : throughout cuba with exception of range of t . m . dysodes . type locality : cuba .
dysodes : pinar del rio province , cuba . type locality : 1 km n la coloma , pinar del rio province , cuba .
ericksoni : isla de la juventud . type locality : bibijagua , isla de la juventud .
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? ? ? to ? ? ? meter above sea level ( a . s . l . )
wood snakes deter predators by faking death and decomposition , secreting a noxious fluid and expelling blood from the eyes and mouth .
process information > send signals > chemical ( odor , taste , etc . )
spp . ) . related to the great boa constrictors of central and south america , these snakes perform a series of dramatic acts designed to ward off enemies and hungry predators .
first , they coil themselves up into a tight ball and secrete a truly foul - smelling fluid , which has an odor not dissimilar to that of rotting flesh . at the same time , they turn their eyes bright red by releasing blood into them , although they do not squirt it out in the way that the horned toad lizards do .
instead , the wood snakes have devised an equally macabre finale to their performance . they increase the blood pressure within small capillaries just inside their mouth . the increasing pressure causes the capillaries to grow ever larger until they burst , sending bright scarlet rivulets of blood trickling down from the snake ' s mouth . the alarming effect of this , coupled with the awful stench of the secreted fluid , suggests not only that the creature is dead and in the process of decomposing , but also that it is damaged in some way , or even diseased . as might well be expected , this highly unpleasant sight is normally enough to turn away even the most desperate of predators .
( shuker 2001 : 130 )
shuker , kpn . 2001 . the hidden powers of animals : uncovering the secrets of nature . london : marshall editions ltd . 240 p .
adults grow to between 30 and 60 cm ( 12 and 24 in ) in total length ( including tail ) . they are secretive and predominately terrestrial , found in a variety of natural habitats , including
, swamps , pine woods and scrub , as well as in the vicinity of human habitation . they have a peculiar defensive habit of
mcdiarmid rw , campbell ja , touré t . 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 ) .
parker hw , grandison agc . 1977 . snakes — a natural history . second edition . london and ithaca : british museum ( natural history ) and cornell university press . 108 pp . + 16 plates . lcccn 76 - 54625 . isbn 0 - 8014 - 1095 - 9 ( cloth ) , isbn 0 - 8014 - 9164 - 9 ( paper ) .
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adults reach maturity at lengths of 225 mm in males and 250 - 265 mm in females . the maximum size is 38 cm .
. unless wildlife protection laws are enforced , the relatively secretive nature of this snake may be its only protection against extinction .
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adults grow to between 30 and 60 cm ( 12 and 24 in ) in total length ( including tail ) . they are secretive and predominately terrestrial , found in a variety of natural habitats , including rain forest , swamps , pine woods and scrub , as well as in the vicinity of human habitation . they have a peculiar defensive habit of expelling blood from the mouth , nostrils and eyes when disturbed . some species also change colour over the course of the day .
considering all the boid species found worldwide , which would you think is the rarest ? removing the round island boa bolyeria multocarinata from the list might be fair because the last live specimen was seen approximately 30 years ago . it is believed that introduced wildlife might have helped move this species into the extinct category .
although described and known from only a few specimens collected in the 1950s , cropan’s boa ( corallus cropani ) , a species indigenous to southeastern brazil , is certainly a candidate for being the rarest boid . this species’ future looks bleak at best because southeastern brazil is the most populated part of the country . however , all is not lost . nearly 50 years after the last specimen was captured , another cropan’s boa was found in 2003 . another handful of rare boids that may be added to the list are the angolan python ( python anchietae ) , the oaxacan dwarf boa ( exiliboa placata ) and some insular caribbean boas of the epicrates genus .
but what lay in store for me the following morning was unheard of . the station manager presented another adult u . panamensis . it was found on a boathouse rafter only minutes earlier than my sighting . having traveled several times to this region of costa rica in the past , i knew that the snakes could be found in the area , but i was under the impression that they were extremely rare . my thoughts have since changed about the apparent rarity of the ungaliophis genus , which i will explain later .
this interesting group of little snakes was introduced to western science in 1880 with the published catalog supplement of reptiles and amphibians held in basel , switzerland , by zoologist and physician fritz müller . ungaliophis continentalis was described in this supplement , and a description of u . panamensis by karl patterson schmidt of the field museum of natural history in chicago , ill . , followed in 1933 . but even by the mid to late 1960s , only a handful of specimens were even known to science . in 1968 charles m . bogert of new york’s american museum of natural history published what is still considered the most thorough work on this elusive genus .
one of the reasons these interesting snakes are known as dwarf boas is that they truly are small in size . males average about 16 to 18 inches in total length with females averaging closer to 20 to 24 inches . the largest recorded individual was approximately 30 inches .
both species are muted in color . browns , grays and olives predominate as the general base colors accentuated with flecks of orange and black . superficially these species are easily distinguishable . bromeliad boas have a series of yellow - edged , egg - shaped markings down their entire lengths , and panamanian dwarf boas have a series of yellow - edged , triangular - shaped markings . males of both species have a pair of spurs on either side of the vent , which is a physical trait characteristic of other boids . these species also are allopatric ( nonoverlapping ) in distribution . the bromeliad boa ( u . continentalis ) is found from the mexican state of chiapas to northern nicaragua . the panamanian dwarf boa ( u . panamensis ) is found from southeastern nicaragua to colombia . from collection data it appears that there may be huge gaps of unknown certainty within the two ranges .
both species have been reported from lowland to montane ( more than 6 , 560 feet ) habitats . specimens are secretive and have been found under bark , within epiphytic growth and on branches . this leaves a general impression that the snakes are at least partially arboreal in habits . during the clearing of epiphytic - laden trees in costa rica during the 1960s , a series of banana boas were found , suggesting that they had been disturbed when the trees were taken down . furthermore , snakes of this genus often appear in fruit shipments , which also supports the notion of their arboreal tendencies . although there are no records of these snakes’ prey in the wild , it is thought they may consume both lizards and frogs .
despite their apparent rarity , a few ungaliophis specimens have trickled into north america over the years generally from honduras and nicaragua . if one looks at reptile dealer price lists from the past 20 years , a conservative estimate would be approximately 100 to 150 specimens have been imported into north america during that time . i have found that the bromeliad boa is one of the easier species to maintain . it does well in small 5 - to 10 - gallon aquariums . these snakes are escape artists , so a tight , well - fitting lid or cage door is necessary .
cypress mulch works well as a substrate , and these snakes will burrow into the mulch , especially as a shedding cycle nears . live plants are a permanent fixture in my enclosures ; one can usually find the bromeliad boa securely hidden within the foliage . these snakes like to climb , so provide a small branch or two . water bowls large enough to allow the snake to soak are a must . misting the enclosures will aid in humidity , especially during the warmer months . an optimal humidity during this period should be between 50 and 80 percent .
feeding these snakes can either be a joy or a real pain . some specimens readily take small , dead rodents , yet some remain ardent lizard - feeders . the food choice seems to be associated with gender . females take pinkies and fuzzies , and many males eat nothing but lizards . scent transfer techniques work to an extent but certainly not all the time . offering bromeliad boas food should always be attempted in a very slow , deliberate manner because these snakes are sensitive to quick movements . using long hemostats or forceps helps facilitate feeding without too much disturbance .
after years of searching for these elusive snakes in the field as well as maintaining them in captivity , i’ve come to the conclusion that bromeliad boas are probably not as rare in the wild as they may seem to be , and several factors help explain why so few specimens are found .
the difficulty in finding these snakes is not only related to their small size but also to other factors , such as their arboreal propensities , nocturnal habits and their secretiveness . collections are occasionally made 20 feet or more above ground , but it is usually more difficult . it is also more difficult to locate herps at night than it is during the day . last if not least , these snakes burrow or hide in bromeliads , mosses and other epiphytic growths , which make them even more difficult to find . the snakes of the ungaliophis genus are an enigmatic duo , but they may remain one of the lesser known boids for some time to come . hopefully , captive reproductive efforts will improve as the biology of these snakes is gradually unraveled .
with its harsh desert vistas and simmering heat , saudi arabia is truly a land of the lizards .
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woodsnakes are believed to have diverged from basal macrostomatan stock sometime after the divergence of the macrostomatans from alethinophidians at the end of the cretaceous . macrostomatan snakes are distinguished by characters of the skull and musculature that allow them increased jaw flexibility , a greater gape , and the ability to consume larger prey .
the woodsnakes are believed to have originated in northern south america and from there spread into central america and the west indies . the greatest diversity of woodsnakes exists in cuba , where in the relative absence of other snakes the tropidophiid lineage became the dominant family of snakes on the large island . the origin and relationships of the two asian species of spinejaw snakes in the genus xenophidion are unclear at this time .
the phylogenetic relationship of the tropidophiidae to other snake families is unclear . traditionally , the sister taxon has been identified as the boidae , but in recent years many authors have come to identify the bolyeriidae as the most likely sister taxon .
tropidophiid snakes do not have a functional left lung , as is characteristic of all caenophidian snakes . they do have a well - developed tracheal lung , a characteristic of many colubridoid snakes .
the woodsnakes and spinejaw snakes are small , inoffensive , boa - like snakes . the bones of the lower jaw and the vestigial
pelvic girdle are similar to that of boas , while the absence of a functional left lung and the presence of a tracheal lung are more typical of colubrids . the hyoid apparatus and the condition of the contact between the prefrontal and internasal bones of the snout also are more similar to colubrids than boas .
woodsnakes can be found in a variety of habitats , including open woodlands , forest , cloud forest , dry scrub forest , rocky slopes , rainforests , palm groves , agricultural areas , caves , and cliffs . woodsnakes in general are mesophilic in their habitat preferences , avoiding extremes and existing in environments that are neither too wet nor too dry .
the feeding behavior of woodsnakes is not well known . they have been observed actively foraging , and it is likely that
little is known about the status of any woodsnake species in the wild . no base - line population density studies are published .
woodsnakes in nature exist largely unseen and unbothered by humans . some species are kept and bred in captivity .
english : banded dwarf boa , feick ' s dwarf boa ; french : boa forestier de feick ; spanish : majá .
this is a medium - sized woodsnake with a reported maximum length of 20 in ( 50 . 5 cm ) . the head of this slender snake is distinctly wider than the neck . banded woodsnakes are boldly marked with 17–26 dark bands on the body . they are smooth - scaled , shiny , and iridescent .
the banded woodsnake is associated with wooded areas . it has been collected on cliff faces and in caves , as well . while the
species is considered to be predominantly terrestrial , specimens have been found climbing in trees and vines .
like most woodsnakes , the banded woodsnake is a calm and docile snake that coils into a ball when threatened . this beautiful snake tends to be slow and deliberate in its movements .
the banded woodsnake feeds primarily on anoline lizards . it is reported that in captivity all ages accept appropriately sized anolis carolinensis as suitable prey . large adults will feed on pink mice in captivity .
the san antonio zoo reported on the birth of two litters of t . feicki , both born in september 1999 . the eight neonates ranged in length from 5 . 6 in to 7 . 3 in ( 14 . 4 cm to 18 . 5 cm ) and in weight from 0 . 07 oz to 0 . 12 oz ( 2 . 1g to 3 . 5 g ) . prior to breeding , the two pairs of adult parents were subjected to both daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations . throughout most of the year , temperatures were kept fairly constant , varying only 78–80°f ( 26–27°c ) ; from december through february the daily temperatures varied from 62 . 6°f to 80 . 6°f ( 17°c to 27°c ) .
the banded woodsnake exists in nature largely unseen and unmolested by humans . it is one of the most attractive species of woodsnakes , but few specimens have come from cuba and the species is rarely seen in captivity .
english : bromeliad boa , bromeliad dwarf boa , banana boa ; french : boa nain ; german : bananenboa ; spanish : boa enana .
this is a medium - sized woodsnake with a reported maximum length approaching 30 in ( 76 cm ) . this is a slender , smooth - scaled snake , pale gray or tan with a distinct pattern of black triangular blotches on the back . there is a single large prefrontal scale , the scale on top of the snout ; this character distinguishes this genus from other tropidophiids . females do not have cloacal spurs , but males have prominent large spurs .
the southern bromeliad woodsnake occurs at low to moderate elevations in southeastern nicaragua , costa rica , panama , and western colombia .
southern bromeliad woodsnakes are associated with primary and secondary forest . the species has been encountered on the ground and has been collected in the verdant epiphytic growth of large trees when they are felled .
this is a very pleasant snake to handle , being inoffensive by nature and deliberate and docile in actions . the southern bromeliad woodsnake does not bite in defense . when threatened or molested , it coils into a ball . only rarely does this species discharge its odiferous anal secretions when molested .
in nature , it is believed that this species feeds primarily on small lizards and frogs . in captivity , all ages will usually accept appropriately sized anolis sagrei and anolis carolinensis lizards as prey ; adults usually feed on appropriately sized rodents .
this species is viviparous . very little is known about the reproduction of this species in nature or captivity . neonates are about 6 in ( 15 cm ) in length .
this species is rarely kept in captivity . in nature the southern bromeliad woodsnake is rarely observed . the species is largely unseen and unmolested by humans .
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woodsnakes and spinejaw snakes ( tropidophiidae ) .
grzimek ' s animal life encyclopedia . . retrieved july 09 , 2018 from urltoken urltoken
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reynolds , r . g . , m . l . niemiller , and l . j . revell . 2014 . toward a tree - of - life for the boas and pythons : multilocus species - level phylogeny with unprecedented taxon sampling . molecular phylogenetics and evolution 71 : 201 - 213
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this family is confined to the neotropics , mainly in hispaniola , jamaica , and the cayman islands , with the greatest diversity being in cuba , where new species are being discovered . these snakes are very small , averaging to about 30–60 cm ( 12–24 in ) in total length ( including tail ) .
most species spend their day burrowed underground or under vegetation , surfacing only at night or when it rains . some species are arboreal and are often seen hiding in bromeliads in trees .
the dwarf boas can change color from light ( when they are active at night ) to dark ( inactive in the day ) . this color change is brought about by the movement of dark pigment granules .
when threatened , tropidophiids coil up into a tight ball . a more peculiar defensive behavior is their ability to bleed voluntarily from the eyes , mouth , and nostrils .
mcdiarmid rw , campbell ja , touré t . 1999 . snake species of the world : a taxonomic and geographic reference , vol . 1 . herpetologists ' league . 511 pp . isbn 1 - 893777 - 00 - 6 ( series ) . isbn 1 - 893777 - 01 - 4 ( volume ) .