A handsome yellow-and-black Caribbean constrictor endemic to Jamaica, critically reduced by introduced mongooses and habitat loss.
Description
The Jamaican boa is a slim, smooth-scaled snake usually under 2 m, with iridescent yellow and gold scales near the head transitioning into black bands and a dark grey-green tail. The body is laterally compressed for life among rocks and tree limbs.
Behavior
A nocturnal arboreal hunter, the Jamaican boa is especially adept at catching bats as they emerge from cave roosts, snatching them in midair with a swift sideways strike. It also feeds on rats, doves, and lizards. Females give birth to live young after a long gestation.
Range
Endemic to the island of Jamaica, where it persists mainly in remnant mid-elevation forest of the Cockpit Country, John Crow Mountains, and Black River Morass. The species is protected under Jamaican law but remains under pressure from habitat loss.
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