| Jamaican Boa Epicrates subflavus |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Boidae |
| Subfamily: | Boinae |
| Genus: | Epicrates |
| Species: | E. subflavus |
| Binomial name | |
| Epicrates subflavus Stejneger, 1901 |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Jamaican Boa,[2], or yellow snake[3] (Epicrates subflavus) is non-venomous boa species found in Jamaica. No subspecies are currently recognized.[2]
Contents |
Adults grow to an average of about 2 m (6 feet 6 inches) in length. or higher.
Found in Jamaica, including Goat Island. The type locality given is Jamaica.[1]
Moist limestone forests.
This species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with the following criteria: A2ce (v2.3, 1994).[4] A species is listed as such when the best available evidence indicates that a population decline of 20% is expected within the next ten years or three generations, whichever is the longer, due to a decline in the quality and area of occupancy. It is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Year assessed: 1996.[5]
Their natural habitat is being destroyed, which is forcing them into inhabited areas, where they are captured and killed. Some measures have been taken to afford these animals some protection: