Chilabothrus schwartzi

Chilabothrus schwartzi, also known as the Crooked-Aklins boa or Crooked Acklins boa, is a species of snake. It is endemic to the southern Bahamas, specifically to Crooked Island and Acklins.[1] It was originally described as subspecies of Epicrates chrysogaster[2] (now Chilabothrus chrysogaster), but it was elevated to full species status in 2018.[1][3] In fact, molecular data suggest a closer relationship with Chilabothrus argentum than with Chilabothrus chrysogaster.[4]

Chilabothrus schwartzi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Boidae
Genus: Chilabothrus
Species:
C. schwartzi
Binomial name
Chilabothrus schwartzi
(Buden, 1975)
Synonyms[1]
  • Epicrates chrysogaster schwartzi Buden, 1975[2]

Etymology

The specific name, schwartzi, is in honor of American herpetologist Albert Schwartz.[5]

Description

Chilabothrus schwartzi can reach at least 785 mm (30.9 in) in snout–vent length. There are 1–2 loreal scales (most often one), 8–10 circumorbital scales, and 13 supralabial scales. Ventral scales are immaculate cream-colored. Dorsal coloration is grayish-silver in adults and reddish-orange in juveniles. There are frequently (but not always) elongated saddle blotches of slightly darker color than the dorsal ground color, extending nearly to the ventral scales. Postorbital stripe is absent.[4]

Habitat and conservation

Specimens have been found actively foraging low (about 1.5 m (5 ft) high) in trees and bushes, and on the ground.[4]

As of 2020, Chilabothrus schwartzi has not been included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[6] Its range likely covers two relatively large islands, but it appears to be rare, or at least restricted to specific habitats. Threats to it are unknown, but likely include persecution, roadkills, and introduced vertebrate predators.[3]

References
  1. Chilabothrus chrysogaster at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  2. Buden, Donald W. (1975). "Notes on Epicrates chrysogaster (Serpentes: Boidae) of the southern Bahamas, with description of a new subspecies". Herpetologica. 31 (2): 166–177. JSTOR 3891649.
  3. Reynolds, R. Graham & Henderson, Robert W. (2018). "Boas of the world (superfamily Booidae): a checklist with systematic, taxonomic, and conservation assessments". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 162 (1): 1–58. doi:10.3099/MCZ48.1.
  4. Reynolds, R. Graham; Puente-Rolón, Alberto R.; Burgess, Joseph P. & Baker, Brian O. (2018). "Rediscovery and a redescription of the Crooked-Acklins boa, Chilabothrus schwartzi (Buden, 1975), comb. nov". Breviora. 558 (1): 1–16. doi:10.3099/MCZ46.1.
  5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.(Epicrates chrysogaster schwartzi, p. 239).
  6. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". Retrieved 22 September 2020.
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