Cuban tree boa
Chilabothrus Angulfe
This near threatened snake is very much a solitary animal with poor eyesight. They use their tongues to ‘smell’ the air instead. Once they catch their prey, they do not kill with their teeth. Instead, they coil around their victim and squeeze, preventing the prey’s organs from functioning and suffocating them. It is one of the larger species of boa. The average Cuban tree boa is up to four metres long.
You can see these snakes in the zoo’s Reptile House.
IUCN Status
The IUCN status of the Cuban tree boa is near threatened.
For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org (link opens in new window).
Fun fact
Boas give birth to live young, rather than laying eggs
Animal class
Reptile
Conservation status
Cuban tree boas are near threatened, with threats including humans who view them as a pest for livestock, and death by natural disasters.
Habitat
Rainforest – found in Cuba and surrounding islands
Population
Exact figures are unknown.
Diet
Carnivore – eats rodents and small mammals.