Cuban Boa
Epicrates angulifer

Range and habitat:
Forests and grasslands of Cuba. Some individuals frequent caves.

Natural diet:
Large adults primarily eat hutias, (Capromys pilorides -- a large endemic rodent of Cuba) and Cuban rock iguanas (Cyclura nubila). Sub-adults eat black rats, (Rattus rattus) birds (including domestic fowl), bats, and lizards. Small boas eat mice, lizards, and small birds.

Size / weight range:
Adult boas can be longer than 15 feet in length and can weigh more than 60 pounds. They are the largest land vertebrate in the West Indies.

Interesting Facts:
• IUCN Near-threatened. They are at risk because people kill them out of ignorance or to eat them (yes, some people eat snakes)
• Cuban boas mate in May-June and give birth to live babies in December after a gestation of 180 days. They reproduce every other year or even less frequently.
• They are crepuscular (come out at twilight) and nocturnal and may be inactive for long periods of time, especially in the dry season (November-March).
• They generally ambush their prey along trails but also may chase prey into holes and trees. They are gentle, harmless snakes and do not bite unless provoked.

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