Epicrates chrysogaster
Encyclopedia
Epicrates chrysogaster, also known as Southern Bahamas Boa, is a species of snake
found in the southern Bahamas (Inagua
, Crooked and Acklins
) and the Turks and Caicos Islands
. Local names include Rainbow Boa (not to be confused with Epicrates cenchria, the "real" Rainbow Boa), Bahamas Cat Boa, Rainbow Snake, and Fowl Snake. As all boids, it is not a venomous
species.
:
There are three color morphs
of this species: spotted, striped, and no-pattern. The spotted version seems to be the most common, followed by striped and finally the very uncommon no-pattern snakes, which are mostly solid gray with a few dark markings. Juveniles are orange or red and long and thin. Rarely, some adults will retain the juvenile coloration.
1) Introduced predators
. Turks Island Boas are extremely vulnerable to predation by cats and rats. House cats can likely decimate or exterminate populations of boas on small islands.
2) Human persecution. People are often afraid of snakes and will kill them on site, mistakenly believing that they are venomous, harmful, or demonic entities.
3) Habitat loss. The Turks and Caicos Islands are being rapidly developed. Boas must compete with people for habitat and suitable places to live. Because they are very slow moving, snakes are easily killed when trying to cross the roads that run through their habitat. They cannot dodge passing cars, and a road through their habitat can drastically reduce reproductive adults in a population.
, Crooked and Acklins
. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, it is found on 10 islands, 9 of which are on the Caicos Bank. Boas are occasionally still found on Providenciales
, though this population has likely been decimated in the last 30 years and is in danger of extirpation
. Though originally reported from Grand Turk
, the Turks Island Boa now appears to be only found on islands on the Caicos Bank and a few of the Turks Cays.
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
found in the southern Bahamas (Inagua
Inagua
Inagua is the southernmost district of the Bahamas comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua.Great Inagua is the third largest island in The Bahamas at 596 sq mi and lies about 55 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 x 19 miles in extent, the highest point...
, Crooked and Acklins
Acklins
Acklins is an island and district of the Bahamas.It is one of a group of islands arranged along a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the southeast, and the smaller are Long Cay [ 8sq mi] in the northwest, and...
) and the Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
. Local names include Rainbow Boa (not to be confused with Epicrates cenchria, the "real" Rainbow Boa), Bahamas Cat Boa, Rainbow Snake, and Fowl Snake. As all boids, it is not a venomous
Venomous snake
"Poisonous snake" redirects here. For true poisonous snakes, see Rhabdophis.Venomous snakes are snakes which have venom glands and specialized teeth for the injection of venom...
species.
Subspecies
This snake has three subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
:
- Turks Island Boa (Epicrates chrysogaster chrysogaster)– Turks and Caicos Islands
- Southern Bahamas Boa (Epicrates chrysogaster relicquus)– Bahamas (Inagua)
- Southern Bahamas Boa (Epicrates chrysogaster schwartzi)– Bahamas (Crooked and Acklins)
Description
Turks Island Boas are nocturnal, and actively forage for lizards, birds, and rodents. They prefer either tropical dry forest habitat or scrub vegetation with plenty of large, flat rocks. Adults reach a maximum size of over 70 inches (177.8 cm) or more, but more often they are around 32 inches (81.3 cm) long.There are three color morphs
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
of this species: spotted, striped, and no-pattern. The spotted version seems to be the most common, followed by striped and finally the very uncommon no-pattern snakes, which are mostly solid gray with a few dark markings. Juveniles are orange or red and long and thin. Rarely, some adults will retain the juvenile coloration.
Threats
There are three primary threats to this species:1) Introduced predators
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
. Turks Island Boas are extremely vulnerable to predation by cats and rats. House cats can likely decimate or exterminate populations of boas on small islands.
2) Human persecution. People are often afraid of snakes and will kill them on site, mistakenly believing that they are venomous, harmful, or demonic entities.
3) Habitat loss. The Turks and Caicos Islands are being rapidly developed. Boas must compete with people for habitat and suitable places to live. Because they are very slow moving, snakes are easily killed when trying to cross the roads that run through their habitat. They cannot dodge passing cars, and a road through their habitat can drastically reduce reproductive adults in a population.
Distribution
In the Bahamas the Turks Island Boas is found on InaguaInagua
Inagua is the southernmost district of the Bahamas comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua.Great Inagua is the third largest island in The Bahamas at 596 sq mi and lies about 55 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 x 19 miles in extent, the highest point...
, Crooked and Acklins
Acklins
Acklins is an island and district of the Bahamas.It is one of a group of islands arranged along a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the southeast, and the smaller are Long Cay [ 8sq mi] in the northwest, and...
. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, it is found on 10 islands, 9 of which are on the Caicos Bank. Boas are occasionally still found on Providenciales
Providenciales
Providenciales is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The island has an area of and an approximate population of 15,542, making it the largest island in population and the third largest in area. It is served by the Providenciales International Airport...
, though this population has likely been decimated in the last 30 years and is in danger of extirpation
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
. Though originally reported from Grand Turk
Grand Turk Island
Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is the largest island in the Turks Islands with . It contains the territory's capital, Cockburn Town and the JAGS McCartney International Airport...
, the Turks Island Boa now appears to be only found on islands on the Caicos Bank and a few of the Turks Cays.