PUERTO RICAN BOA (CULEBRA GRANDE) Epicrates inornatus (Reinhardt) 



Order: SQUAMATA Family: BOIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : A somber grey to brown boa, reaching at least 6 feet. 

 Top of head with small scales instead of large plates . 



Present distribution : Puerto Rico; a single recent record from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin 

 Islands; reported from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. 



Former distribution : Unknown, but probably found on most of the larger islands of the 

 Puerto Rico Bank . 



Status ; Very uncommon throughout range . 



Estimated numbers : Probably fewer than 200 in Puerto Rico; isolated individuals may 

 occur elsewhere, as the one found during destruction of a wall on St. Thomas. 



Breeding rate in wild : Nothing specific known; 8 to 30 young, born alive, are usual 

 for this genus, presumably born once a year. 



Reasons for decline : Usually said to be mongoose predation, but unclear owing to 

 survival with mongooses where known to occur and the abundance of several closely 

 allied species of the same genus on the mongoose-infested island of Hispaniola. People 

 usually kill every one they see, and automobiles kill a few every year in Puerto Rico. 



Protective measures already taken : None . 



Meastires proposed : Legal protection in all U.S. sections of the Puerto Rico Bank. 



Numbers in captivity ; None known. 



Breeding potential in captivity : Unknown . 



Remarks : Submitted by James D. Lazell. 



References : 



Seaman, G. St. Croix, Virgin Islands (pers . comm.). 



Stejneger, L. 1904. The herpetology of Porto Rico . U .S . Nat . Mus .: 549-724. 

 Underwood, G. 1962. Reptiles of the eastern Caribbean . Caribbean Affairs 

 (New Series) 1:192 pp. 



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