ANIMAL: Dominican Red Mountain Boa Chilabothrus striatus Type of Animal: Boa/Python Habitat: Mountain forests Location(s): Dominican Republic Appearance: Usually red w/ spots, sometimes come in whitish calico morph w/ red head, chocolate morph, some rusty colored, 1 morph pinkish grey w/ bolder pattern, young change color on daily basis Food/Diet: Small mammals, lizards, birds Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos, herpetoculture, & breeders Lifestyle: Solitary or groups of 1-2 males & 1-4 females. Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young-Snakelet Group-Knot Weight: Male-1 lb Female-4 lbs Gestation: 6.5-7.5 months Life Span: 10-20 years Body Length: Male-5 ft Female-6 ft Young-1.5 ft Other Fact(s): Potential popularity in pet trade due to colors & rarity. Potential threats include pet trade, deforestation, & habitat loss. Reptile breeders Tom Crutchfield & Bob Occhifinto brought these boas into the U.S. in 1980’s & most captive boas in U.S. descended from boas bred by these two. Occhifinto currently New Jersey entrepreneur & runs Undercurrent Imports in Andover, New Jersey while Crutchfield has reptile breeding farm in Homestead, Florida. They’re shy & docile snakes. Like other boas, they give birth to live young (usually 10-30). If agitated, they may musk but they calm down w/ frequent handling. Due to elusiveness, not much else is known about them.
