Cuban Tree Boa

The presence of labial pits, the shortest tail of the entire genus and supralabials separated from the eye result in the Cuban boa being the least derived species of the genus Chilabothrus. It is also the largest member of Chilabothrus. The Cuban boa has a quite massive body, of a size typical for a boa or python of far greater length.

Size. C. angulifer is the largest snake in Cuba and the West Indies, with specimens exceeding 5 m (16 ft) in total length (tail included) and 30 kg (66 lb) in weight. The largest individual measured 5.65 m (18.5 ft) long and was estimated at more than 40 kg (88 lb) in mass. Gundlach (1875, 1880) stated that he had seen individuals of about 6.4 m (21 ft) in total length. He also mentioned one large individual kept in captivity by him that had a length of 4.57 m (15.0 ft) and was collected at the Zapata Swamp, Matanzas Province. Rodríguez (1876) commented that the largest specimens are able grow up to 5.49 m (18.0 ft) long and 25–28 cm (9.8–11.0 in) in diameter. However, on average C. angulifer reaches 3.66 m (12.0 ft) in total length.

Coloring. …

Chilabothrus angulifer is found in Cuba and on adjacent islands, including Isla de la Juventud (formerly called the Isle of Pines), the Canarreos Archipelago (the Cayo Cantiles), the Colorados Archipelago off the northern coast of Pinar del Río, the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago (Cayo Guajaba and Cayo Sant María). The type locality given is "Cuba".

Despite its large size, the Cuban boa is semi-arboreal and climbs fairly well. It is usually solitary, sometimes intersecting during the mating season.

Diet. Chilabothrus angulifer is a terrestrial apex predator in Cuba along with the Cuban crocodile and carnivorous birds. Depending on age, size and health, prey can range from anurans, lizards, giant tropes, Cuban sliders, aquatic birds (purple gallinules), free-ranging raptors (red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures), forest birds (Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Passeriformes), caged birds (Columbiformes, Galliformes, crested caracaras, Passeriformes, Psittaciformes), free-ranging poultry (Muscovy ducks, Galliformes), bats, goats, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, European rabbits, hutias and rats. As a result of data from the literature and field studies, 351 prey items were recorded in 49 different taxa obtained from 218 snakes. Warm-blooded (mammals and birds) made up 96%, while cold-blooded (reptiles and amphibians) only 4%. Mammals made up 54.7% of the total prey items consumed, followed by birds (41.3%), while amphibians (2%) and reptiles (2%) made up only a small part of the diet. …

The genus name Chilabothrus is from the Greek cheilos, meaning "lip", á "without" and bothros "pits". The specific name originates from the Latin word angirlus, meaning "angle", probably in reference to the angular shapes of the main elements of the dorsal pattern.