Reptiles · Squamata · Boidae

Cuban Boa

Chilabothrus angulifer

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The Cuban boa, or majá de Santa María, is the largest snake in the Caribbean and the largest native land predator in Cuba. It hunts bats at cave entrances, hanging from the roof and catching them in flight. In 2017 the first known case of cooperative hunting in snakes was documented in this species.

Weight

10 kg – 30 kg

Size

3 m – 4.8 m

Lifespan

30 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

RainforestTemperate forestIslandsCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Near Threatened Reptile Rainforest Temperate forest Islands

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Fun facts

It is the only snake in the world in which cooperative hunting has been documented: several individuals position themselves in coordination at a cave mouth, forming a barrier with their bodies, and catch more bats than they would hunting separately.
It hunts hanging from the cave roof by its tail alone, snatching bats in flight in the half-light of dusk.
It is the largest native land predator in Cuba: on an island without large carnivores, this boa fills the place a cat or a dog would take on the mainland.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Dry forest, karst scrub, caves and farmland of Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud
Sexual maturity: 4 years
Gestation / incubation: 6 months of gestation
Litter / clutch size: 15 live young

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilabothrus_angulifer