# Tropidophis

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.

## Description

Adults grow to between 30 and 60 cm (12 and 24 in) in total length (including tail). They are secretive and predominantly 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 an interesting defensive habit of Autohaemorrhaging from the mouth, nostrils and eyes when disturbed. Some species also change colour over the course of the day.
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.

## Distribution and habitat

Found in the West Indies, including Cuba, and in South America (Brazil, Peru and Ecuador).

## Species

| Species | Taxon author | Subsp.* | Common name | Geographic range |
| Tropidophis battersbyi | Laurent, 1949 | 0 | Battersby's dwarf boa | Ecuador |
| Tropidophis bucculentus | (Cope, 1868) | 0 | Navassa Island dwarf boa | Navassa Island |
| Tropidophis canus | (Cope, 1868) | 3 | Bahamian pygmy boa constrictor | the Bahamas |
| Tropidophis caymanensis | Battersby, 1938 | 2 | Cayman Islands dwarf boa | the Cayman Islands |
| Tropidophis feicki | Schwartz, 1957 | 0 | broad-banded dwarf boa | western Cuba |
| Tropidophis fuscus | Hedges & Garrido, 1992 | 0 | Cuban dusky dwarf boa | northeastern Cuba |
| Tropidophis greenwayi | Barbour & Shreve, 1936 | 1 | Caicos Islands dwarf boa | the Caicos Islands |
| Tropidophis haetianus | (Cope, 1879) | 5 | Haitian dwarf boa | Hispaniola and adjacent islands |
| Tropidophis maculatus | (Bibron, 1840) | 0 | spotted red dwarf boa | western Cuba |
| Tropidophis melanurus$^T$ | (Schlegel, 1837) | 2 | dusky dwarf boa | Cuba and adjacent islands |
| Tropidophis nigriventris | Bailey, 1937 | 0 | black-bellied dwarf boa | central Cuba |
| Tropidophis pardalis | (Gundlach, 1840) | 0 | leopard dwarf boa | Cuba and adjacent islands |
| Tropidophis paucisquamis | (F. Müller, 1901) | 0 | Brazilian dwarf boa | Brazil in Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo |
| Tropidophis pilsbryi | Bailey, 1937 | 1 | Cuban white-necked dwarf boa | central and eastern Cuba |
| Tropidophis semicinctus | (Gundlach & W. Peters, 1864) | 0 | yellow-banded dwarf boa | western and central Cuba |
| Tropidophis taczanowskyi | (Steindachner, 1880) | 0 | Taczanowski's dwarf boa | Amazonian Peru and Ecuador |
| Tropidophis wrighti | Stull, 1928 | 0 | Wright's dwarf boa | eastern Cuba |
* ) Not including the nominate subspecies.
$^T$) Type species.
The Reptile Database includes these further species:
| Species | Taxon author | Subsp.* | Common name | Geographic range |
| Tropidophis cacuangoae | (Hedges, Estrada & Díaz, 1999) | 0 | | Ecuador |
| Tropidophis celiae | (Hedges, Estrada & Díaz, 1999) | 0 | Canasi dwarf boa | Cuba and adjacent islands |
| Tropidophis curtus | (Garman, 1887) | 0 | Northern Bahamas dwarf boa | the Bahamas |
| Tropidophis galacelidus | Schwartz & Garrido, 1975 | 0 | Escambray white-necked dwarf boa | central Cuba |
| Tropidophis grapiuna | Curcio, Sales-Nunes, Suzart-Argolo, Skuk & Rodrigues, 2012 | 0 | | Brazil |
| Tropidophis hardyi | Schwartz & Garrido, 1975 | 0 | Escambray small-headed dwarf boa | Cuba |
| Tropidophis hendersoni | Hedges & Garrido, 2002 | 0 | Cuban khaki dwarf boa | Cuba |
| Tropidophis jamaicensis | Stull, 1928 | 0 | Jamaican dwarf boa | Jamaica |
| Tropidophis leonae | Landestoy, 2023 | 0 | Jaragua golden trope | Dominican Republic |
| Tropidophis morenoi | Hedges, Garrido & Díaz, 2001 | 0 | zebra dwarf boa | Cuba |
| Tropidophis parkeri | Grant, 1941 | 0 | Parker's dwarf boa | Little Cayman Island |
| Tropidophis preciosus | Curcio, Sales Nunes, Suzart Argolo, Skuk & Rodrigues, 2012 | 0 | | Brazil |
| Tropidophis schwartzi | Thomas, 1963 | 0 | Schwartz's dwarf boa | the Cayman Islands |
| Tropidophis spiritus | Hedges & Garrido, 1999 | 0 | Sancti Spíritus dwarf boa | Cuba |
| Tropidophis steinleini | Díaz & Cádiz, 2020 | 0 | | Cuba |
| Tropidophis stejnegeri | Grant, 1940 | 0 | Stejneger's dwarf boa | northern Jamaica |
| Tropidophis stullae | Grant, 1940 | 0 | Stull's dwarf boa | southern Jamaica |
| Tropidophis xanthogaster | Domínguez, Moreno & Hedges, 2006 | 0 | Guanahacabibes dwarf boa | Cuba |
* ) Not including the nominate subspecies.
There are currently 33 species, in which 26 of them are West Indian and 15 of them are Cuban. The 15 species in Cuba are the most diverse.