Dominica Boa

• It was recognised as a species of its own in 2016, when it was split from the mainland boa constrictor along with the Saint Lucia boa: until then they were regarded as island populations of a single widespread species.
• Hurricane Maria in 2017 destroyed much of Dominica's forest and seriously affected the species' only population, whose subsequent monitoring is still under way.
• It is the island's largest land predator and controls the introduced rat populations, though direct persecution by local people remains a problem.

Skeleton type

Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)

Habitat and environment

Montane rainforest, dry forest and plantations on the island of Dominica, in the Lesser Antilles

Sexual maturity

4 years

Gestation / incubation

6 months of gestation

Litter / clutch size

25 live young

Sources consulted: IUCN Red List · Animal Diversity Web · Wikipedia (es)

The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.