Dominican Red Mountain Boa

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.

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