Cuban boa
The Cuban boa, also known as the Cuban tree boa and by locals as Majá de Santa María, is a very large species of snake in the family Boidae. With lengths exceeding and a relatively heavy build, the Cuban boa is one of the largest snakes in North America. The species is native to Cuba and some nearby islands. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Etymology
The genus name Chilabothrus is from the Greek cheilos, meaning "lip", á "without" and bothros "pits". The specific name originates from the Latin word angirlus, meaning "angle", probably in reference to the angular shapes of the main elements of the dorsal pattern.
Geographic range
Chilabothrus angulifer is found in Cuba and on adjacent islands, including Isla de la Juventud, the Canarreos Archipelago, the Colorados Archipelago off the northern coast of Pinar del Río, the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago. The type locality given is "Cuba".
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Chilabothrus angulifer is forest of several varieties, at altitudes from sea level to. It has also been found in sugar cane plantations.
Description
The presence of labial pits, the shortest tail of the entire genus and supralabials separated from the eye result in the Cuban boa being the least derived species of the genus Chilabothrus. It is also the largest member of Chilabothrus. The Cuban boa has a quite massive body, of a size typical for a boa or python of far greater length.
Size
C. angulifer is the largest snake in Cuba and the West Indies, with specimens exceeding in total length and in weight. The largest individual measured long and was estimated at more than in mass. Gundlach stated that he had seen individuals of about in total length. He also mentioned one large individual kept in captivity by him that had a length of and was collected at the Zapata Swamp, Matanzas Province. Rodríguez commented that the largest specimens are able grow up to long and in diameter. However, on average C. angulifer reaches in total length.
Coloring
Coloration brown with a pattern of staggered dark brown rhombic spots.
Dorsal pattern of 42–65 appressed, angulate, dark brown to black markings on a yellowish to yellow-tan ground, but often without any dark colors in dorsal pattern, and pattern composed of indeterminate number of medium brown to pale tan, much-fused markings; tail patternless above, or with up to 12 darker dorsal markings.
Scalation
C. angulifer possesses 53–69 dorsal scale rows at midbody; 272–292 ventral scales in males, 268–290 in females; 45–55 subcaudal scales in males, 46–54 in females; 321–347 ventrals + subcaudals in males, 316–339 in females; supralabial scales separated from eye. C. angulifer is different from most other species of the genus in that the eye is usually completely separated from the supralabials by a row of lorilabials, and the subcaudals are few.
Behavior
Despite its large size, the Cuban boa is semi-arboreal and climbs fairly well. It is usually solitary, sometimes intersecting during the mating season.
Diet
Chilabothrus angulifer is a terrestrial apex predator in Cuba along with the Cuban crocodile and carnivorous birds. Depending on age, size and health, prey can range from anurans, lizards, giant tropes, Cuban sliders, aquatic birds, free-ranging raptors, forest birds, caged birds, free-ranging poultry, bats, goats, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, European rabbits, hutias and rats. As a result of data from the literature and field studies, 351 prey items were recorded in 49 different taxa obtained from 218 snakes. Warm-blooded made up 96%, while cold-blooded only 4%. Mammals made up 54.7% of the total prey items consumed, followed by birds, while amphibians and reptiles made up only a small part of the diet. The prey species most frequently consumed were domestic fowl, Desmarest's hutias, two bat species, and black rats .
Reproduction
Chilabothrus angulifer is viviparous. Females are biennial breeders and take five or more years to mature. Mating season is normally April through June. Males will mate every year and engage in ritualized combat. Size, not age, determines the female's ability to reproduce. Gestation in the wild is typically 150–180 days. Gestation length appears to reflect the temperatures the females are exposed to while gravid. Parturition normally takes place in September and October. Litter sizes range from 2–22 young in the wild. There appears to be a correlation between the size of the female and litter/neonate size: the larger the female, the larger the litters and babies. Neonatal C. angulifer are among the largest within the family. Only neonatal Boa constrictor and Eunectes murinus are of comparable sizes.
Maturation
Chilabothrus angulifer reaches maturation for breeding at three years old for males, and five years old for females. Captive snakes reach breeding maturity at larger sizes than non-captive snakes.
Longevity
In the wild, Cuban boas can live in excess of 30 years. Although the reproductive potential is still poorly understood, long term studies are quantifying the missing or inconclusive data. In captivity, specimens continuously reproduced at the age of 30 plus years.
Conservation status
Chilabothrus angulifer was classified as "Least Concern" in 2021.