Added 9 December 2015.
Trachyboa is a small genus from Central and South America.
Boulenger described the genus as follow: anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth longest, gradually decreasing in size; head distinct from neck, covered in scales; no rostral shield; nostril in single nasal; eye moderate, with vertical pupil; body compressed; scales keeled; tail short, prehensile; subcaudals single.
These snakes are rarely if ever seen in the pet trade. They are reported to feed on fish or amphibians [Wagner].
|
Species |
Common Name |
Origin |
Adult size |
Notes |
|
Trachyboa |
||||
|
T. boulengeri |
Northern Eyelash Boa |
Panama, Colombia, Ecuador |
?' |
Found in rainforest habitat. Scalation details: top of head, canthus rostralis, with horns. [SOURCE: Peters and Donoso-Barros] |
|
T. gularis |
Southern Eyelash Boa |
Ecuador |
TL 39cm |
Scalation details: upper head scales small, convex keeled, with a few on the snout transversely enlarged and smooth; eye bordered by 5th or 6th supralabial and 11-13 scales; 23-26 shields around upper lip; 4 pairs of chin shields bordering mental groove; scales strongly keeled, in 29-31 rows; 149-152 ventrals; anal undivided; 25-30 subcaudals. Other: snout scarcely prominent. Coloration: brown above, darker on head and on middle of nape; two alternating series of black spots on each side, the lower largest and extending onto belly; belly yellowish. [SOURCE: Boulenger] |
Boas: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual, Doug Wagner, Barrons, 1996, New York/Hong Kong. Excellent book covering all the boas, including the obscure species unlikely to be seen, although there is little detail on Trachyboa and its relatives. Highly recommended.
The Boidae (Boas and Pythons) section of the Reptile Database provided (as always) much useful information, especially regarding subspecies, distributions and the history of recent taxonomic changes.
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