Dwarf boas
| Dwarf boas | ||||||||||||
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Panama pygmy boa |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Ungaliophiinae | ||||||||||||
| McDowell , 1987 |
The dwarf boas (Ungaliophiinae) are a species-poor, only three species subfamily of snakes in the family of boas (Boidae), which occurs from the southern Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas across Central America to northern Colombia .
features
Dwarf boas are medium-sized snakes and reach a maximum length of 75 to 85 cm. Diagnostic features of the subfamily are the lack of fangs in the front part of the lower jaw and the almost parallel position of the hyoid horns . As with other giant snakes, remains of the pelvic girdle are still present in the dwarf boas .
Way of life
Dwarf boas are nocturnal and live very hidden in dry and rain forests, the Oaxaca dwarf boa on the ground, especially in rocky regions, the two species of the genus Ungaliophis more on trees and bushes. Their diet consists mainly of lizards and frogs. Like the actual boa snakes , the dwarf boas are ovoviviparous , so they give birth to live young. The Oaxaca dwarf boa gets 8 to 13 young snakes in the months of September to October.
Genera and species
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Exiliboa Bogert, 1968
- Oaxaca dwarf boa ( Exiliboa placata Bogert, 1968)
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Ungaliophis Müller, 1880
- Central American dwarf boa ( Ungaliophis continentalis Müller, 1880)
- Panama dwarf boa ( Ungaliophis panamensis Schmidt, 1933)
literature
- George R. Zug , Laurie J. Vitt, and Janalee P. Caldwell: Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Academic Press, 2001, ISBN 0-1278-2622-X Google Books