Epicrates (genus)

Rainbow boa ( Epicrates cenchria cenchria )

The Schlankboas ( Epicrates ) are a genus of the family of boas ( Boidae ). It includes ten species of medium to large snakes, nine of which occur in the West Indies, while the rainbow boa (E. cenchria ) is used in several subspecies of Costa Rica to northern Argentina.

Features

The Schlankboas vary in length from about one meter to four meters at the Cuban boa (E. angulifer ). A number of features distinguishes it from all other giant snakes. At the top of the head sit in the front relatively large shields, including a pair Prefrontalia and a pair Internasalia. The nasal opening is surrounded by three Nasalschilden, whose ultimate pair touched behind the rostral. The rear part of the head usually has one or two frontal shields and one to three Supraocularschilde and is otherwise of small, irregular scales covered. Usually no heat sensory pores are present. The fuselage has a center on 20-69 scale rows. The Subcaudalschilde and the anal shield are undivided. All scales are smooth. The front teeth on the upper and lower jaw are significantly larger than the rear.

Way of life

Schlankboas are primarily nocturnal, but can often be observed during the day while sunbathing. When prey are small mammals, birds and reptiles that are strangled and swallowed head first. Mating usually takes place from February to May, the 8 to 30 young are born alive from August to October. The most species reproduce every second year and can reach an age of over ten years to achieve.

Species

  • Cuban boa (E. angulifer )
  • Rainbow boa (E. cenchria )
  • Epicrates chrysogaster
  • Abaco boa (E. exsul )
  • Ford's Boa (E. fordii )
  • Dominican boa (E. gracilis )
  • Puerto Rican Boa (E. inornatus )
  • Virgin Islands boa (E. monensis )
  • Haitiboa (E. striatus)
  • Jamaican Boa (E. subflavus )

Swell

  • Jay Mathers Savage: The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. A Herpetofauna Between Two Continents, Between Two Seas. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2002, ISBN 0-226-73537-0.
  • Anne Hildyard ( Eds.): Abu- Bir. Marshall Cavendish, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-7614-7195-2 ( Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World. Volume 2).
Squamata Johann Georg Wagler Antilles Nasal scale Subcaudal scales
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