These snakes also lacked the wide head spear of longicauda. They were small boas, about 1.5 meters and they were sexually mature and had reproduced 2 times. They all derived from a gravid wild caught female from the vecinity of Provincia Esmeraldas, Rio Verde, North west Ecuador. This gravid snake was captured in 1989 and donated to the foundation. Looking at these Ecuadorian imperator raised a question in my mind.
More research is necessary.
Our research has only just started. I am also planning a trip to Loja, Ecuador in search of this rare boa. Maria Elena expressed to me that it may be quite challenging to find one since her specimen is the only one found in over ten years. In addition I am also currently trying to find out if a preserved holotype specimen of Copes ortonii is in the collection at Harvards Museum of Comparative Zoology. I am curious to see what it really is.