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Haitian boa

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Hàbitat Natural
Location in the zoo

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Geographic distribution:

Haiti, Santo Domingo, Bahamas

Scientific name:
- Epicrates striatus
Taxonomy:
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Boidae
Biology:
- Area of origin: America
- Habitat: Forest
- Social life: Solitary
- Food: Carnivorous

Rating:
- Reptile
Physical Characteristics:
- Longevity: more than 10 years
- Weight at birth:
- Middleweight: 2 - 3 kg
- Length: up to 2,3 m
Reproduction
- Reproduction: Ovoviviparous
- Incubation: 192 - 224 days
- Number of eggs: up to 50 eggs, normally 10-30

Risk level of the species

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Red list: Scale according to the situation of the species IUCN

Description

After the Cuban boa, this is the largest snake native to the Caribbean islands, as some adult specimens measure up to 2.3-metres long. The background colour is light-grey or reddish, with numerous, small black spots running down the flanks and a series of dark rectangular marks edged in black along the dorsal, giving it a striated appearance. It has a triangular head that is very different than the body. Its eyes are small with elliptical pupils.
Their area of distribution encompasses Hispaniola Island, the Bahamas and other small surrounding islands. Up to 8 different subspecies have been described.
They occupy a wide variety of habitats, both wet and a bit drier, from sea level and up to 1200-m high, but always with some plant covering. They are common on pine plantations, somewhat open groves and mangroves.
Nocturnal and very arboreal, during daylight they rest inside rotten, empty tree trunks, cracks in rocks, bird nests or on horizontal tree branches, sometimes at considerable heights.
Young snakes eat lizards (lizards in the Anolis genus are a favourite), while adults prefer to feed on birds and small mammals. They have been seen hunting farmyard eggs and domestic cats in inhabited areas.
With ovoviviparous reproduction, they can give birth to up to 50 babies, although the number is generally lower, 10 to 30, after a gestation period of 192-224 days.
Many subspecies face a precarious situation due to shrinking habitats, also subjected to many negative pressures including the introduction of foreign animals, an increase in human settlements and their increased populations, uncontrolled tourism, etc.
They are not very common in captivity, although they adapt well and can be handled easily. However, when they are frightened, they expel a pestilent liquid from their anal glands. Their reproduction has been obtained repeatedly.

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