Jamaican boa
Template:Short description Template:AI-generated Template:Speciesbox
The Jamaican boa,<ref name="ITIS">Template:ITIS</ref> Jamaican yellow boa or yellow snake<ref name="NEPA">Jamaican Boa Template:Webarchive at www.nrca.org. Accessed 3 March 2009.</ref> (Chilabothrus subflavus; in Jamaican Patois: Template:Lang)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a boa species endemic to Jamaica. No subspecies are recognized.<ref name="ITIS"/> Like all other boas, it is not venomous.
Description
The Jamaican boa is golden-green around the head and along the anterior section of the body, with black zigzag crossbars, becoming black toward the posterior end of its body. The snake's body is quite long, up to Template:Convert in total length.
Behavior
The Jamaican boa is primarily nocturnal and arboreal.<ref name="Newman2019"/> The species may also display crepuscular activity, influenced by factors such as environmental conditions, prey availability, and seasonal activities.<ref name="Newman2019"/><ref name="Marques1998">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Brown2002">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Maciel2003">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Sperry2013">Template:Cite journal</ref> During daytime, this species seeks shelter in various locations such as epiphytes, trees, rock crevices, termite nests, or caves.<ref name="Schwartz1991">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Grant1940">Template:Cite journal</ref> It has been observed at the far end of Portland Cave.<ref name="Schwartz1991"/><ref name="Grant1940"/> This species is also known to bask on rocks following heavy rains and to rest on roads and trails during the evening, suggesting crepuscular behavior under certain conditions.<ref name="Gosse1851">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Schwartz1991"/><ref name="Grant1940"/>
Distribution and habitat
Found in Jamaica in the Cockpit Country, historically once prevalent throughout much of Jamaica, notably in rural areas,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> as well as some smaller adjacent islands, such as Goat Islands.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> However, after the introduction of the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) in 1872,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> sightings of the snake on the mainland dropped. The snake is known to be elusive, which further complicates its detection.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Gibson 1996b 143–155">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Recent surveys have failed to confirm the snake's presence on Great Goat Island, an area dominated by dry limestone forest.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Comprehensive island-wide surveys have been conducted,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> indicating the snake's presence in various parishes such as Trelawny, St. Anne, Westmoreland, and Hanover.<ref name="Gibson 1996b 143–155"/>
The Jamaican boa is now confined to approximately 1,000.6 km2, about 9% of Jamaica's land area. Habitat fragmentation and human activities have localized and severely fragmented the population.<ref name="Newman 2016">Template:Cite journal</ref> Major strongholds for the boa now appear to be Cockpit Country, Blue Mountains, Yallah Mountains, Hellshire Hills, and Portland Bight, which together account for 93% of the known habitat of the species.<ref name="Newman 2016"/>
Foraging and diet
The foraging behavior of the Jamaican boa is not extensively studied, but the species is known to be an ecological generalist. It employs constriction to subdue and consume a diverse range of prey. The snake utilizes both active and ambush foraging strategies, which vary depending on the habitat structure, available food resources, and its life stage.<ref name="Prior1997">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Koenig2007">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Newman2019">Template:Cite journal</ref> For instance, it has been observed hanging from branches and vines to prey on emerging bats in the evening.<ref name="Prior1997"/><ref name="Koenig2007"/>
Birds, particularly black-billed parrots (Amazona agilis) and yellow-billed parrots (Amazona collaria), are significant prey items for the Jamaican boa.<ref name="Koenig2007"/> This species is also a leading cause of nest failure for these endemic bird species, particularly in forest edge habitats.<ref name="Koenig2007"/> Invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) are also preyed upon, although their toxins can be fatal to the snake.<ref name="Wilson2011">Template:Cite journal</ref> This species will occasionally enter human dwellings and agricultural areas to hunt for rats and chickens.<ref name="Snider2016">Template:Cite journal</ref> In captivity, the diet often consists of rats for juveniles and adults, while neonates are typically fed chicks or pre-killed, frozen house mice. These mice are often treated with scents from chicks, lizards, or frogs to stimulate consumption.<ref name="Snider2016"/>
Ecological niche
The Jamaican boa is considered a top predator in its ecosystem. It engages in both active and ambush predation, often using vines and tank bromeliads (Aechmea paniculigera) for mobility and camouflage.<ref name="Koenig2007"/><ref name="Henderson2009">Template:Cite book</ref> Observations indicate that the species actively preys on flycatcher nests (Tyrannidae).<ref name="Grant1940"/> It has also been identified as a predator of Black-billed amazons (Amazona agilis) and Yellow-billed amazons (A. collaria) in Cockpit Country, Jamaica.<ref name="Cruz1981">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Koenig2001">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Koenig2007"/>
While there is no published data on the species' relative abundance in Jamaica, research suggests that Black-Billed Parrots experience higher rates of nest predation in ecotones compared to forest habitats. This may indicate a correlation between the foraging ecology of the Jamaican boa and edge habitats in Cockpit Country.<ref name="Koenig2007"/><ref name="Weatherhead1985">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Dodd2003">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Baldwin2004">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Limited information is available on the foraging behavior of the Jamaican boa inside cave systems. Aggressive interactions between male individuals of this species have only been documented in captivity. Additionally, increased levels of aggression from females toward conspecifics have been observed under specific conditions.<ref name="Huff1976">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Huff1979">Template:Cite book</ref>
Conservation status
The Jamaican boa's natural populations greatly and constantly declined since the late 19th century, mainly because of predation by introduced species (such as mongooses), human persecution, and habitat destruction. In-situ conservation of the Jamaican boa is seriously hindered by the lack of information on demographic and ecological parameters as well as by a poor understanding of the population structure and species distribution in the wild. This species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: A2ce (v2.3, 1994).<ref name="IUCN">Template:Redlist species</ref> A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates that a population decline of 20% is expected within the next ten years or three generations, whichever is the longer, due to a decline in the quality and area of occupancy. It is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Year assessed: 1996.<ref name="IUCN-23">Template:Redlist CC1994</ref>
Their natural habitat is being destroyed, which is forcing them into inhabited areas, where they are captured and killed. Some measures have been taken to afford these animals some protection:
- Listed as a Protected Species under the Wild Life Protection Act (1945).
- Listed on Appendix I of CITES.
- Hunting in forest reserves is also prohibited under the Forest Act (1996).
References
Further reading
- Stejneger, L. 1901. A New Systematic Name for the Yellow Boa of Jamaica. Proc. U.S. National Museum 23: 469–470.