Bolyeriidae

Round - Iceland - Boa ( Casarea dussumieri )

The Bolyerschlangen ( Bolyeriidae ) are a family of snakes. The position of the Bolyerschlangen within the snakes is not yet fully understood. Previously they were placed in the former superfamily of snake -like. However, this was split on the basis of genetic studies, with the largest groups are the boas and pythons. Compared to these, the Bolyerschlangen are more closely related to the Caenophidia consisting of the two superfamilies of vipers and viper -like ( Colubroidea ) and the wart snake ( Acrochordidae ). Close relatives are also the Erdboas ( Tropidophiidae ).

Species

Within the family of Bolyerschlangen there are only two types in two classes:

  • Mauritiusboa ( Bolyeria multocarinata )
  • Round - Iceland - Boa ( Casarea dussumieri )

The assignment of the German name to the genera varies from author to author.

Anatomy

Bolyerschlangen reach a total length of up to one and a half meters. Of the boas and pythons, the Bolyerschlangen distinguished by the absence of a pelvic girdle. Furthermore, they are characterized by an inner and outer upper jaw bone. The hypapophyses, which are tooth-like, covered with enamel spinous processes, are located in the Bolyerschlangen on the posterior dorsal vertebrae.

Habitat and food

Both species inhabit or inhabited exclusively the island round Iceland, north of Mauritius. The round- Iceland - Boa preferred trees that Mauritiusboa occurred on stone fields and in crevices. Their main food source is exclusively endemic lizards, such as geckos and skinks.

Protection status

Originally came Bolyerschlangen directly on Mauritius and a few smaller islands, but there they were wiped out in the past by feral pigs. The round- Iceland - boa is in imminent danger of extinction. The Mauritiusboa is already extinct in certain circumstances. Since 1975 were detected on Round Iceland no more copies.

1840 introduced by humans to Round Iceland goats and rabbits set up in the 1980s, a major threat to the snakes dar. On the initiative of the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation invasive animals were removed from the island and declared the entire island to the strictly protected nature reserve. While the measures for the Mauritiusboa came too late, the existence of the round- Iceland - boa of only 75 ( in the 1980s ) could be increased to about 1000 copies at the present time.

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