BOA CONSTRICTOR (Boa Constrictor)

Authors

Are R. Berentsen, USDA/APHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Juan G. Garcia-Cancel, Auburn University
Edna M. Diaz-Negron, USDAIAPHIS/WS/National Wildlife Research Center
Oscar A. Diaz-Marrero, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Cabo Rojo and Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuges
Alberto R. Puente-Rolón, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico
Robert N. Reed, U.s. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science CenterFollow
Kurt C. VerCauteren, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

Herpetological Review 46(4), 201.5

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

USA: PUERTO RICO: MUNICIPALITY OF CABO ROJO: Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge (17.978958°N, 67.170910oW; NAD 83). 10 November 2014. O. A. Diaz-Marrero. Verified by S. M. Boback. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (USNM Herp Image 2838a, b; photo vouchers). First municipality record for this exotic species; all previous reports were restricted to the Municipality of Mayaguez, located ca. 25 km north of Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge. Reynolds et al. (2013. BioI. Invasions 15:953-959) concluded that Boa Constrictor introductions into Puerto Rico were likely related to the pet trade and that they genetically matched snakes belonging to the South American clade (B. constrictor), instead of B. imperator, the Mesoamerican species (Hynkova et al. 2009. Zool. Sci. 26:623-631). It also represents the first report of this species from a protected area in Puerto Rico.