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eBio
Natural History and Morphometrics of the Newly Discovered and Critically Endangered Conception Bank Silver Boa (Chilabothrus argentum; Squamata; Boidae)
R. Graham Reynolds1,*, Alberto R. Puente-Rolón2, and Anthony J. Geneva3
1Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Asheville, Asheville, NC 28804, USA. 2Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00682, USA. 3Department of Biology, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University–Camden, Camden, NJ 08102, USA. *Corresponding author.
Caribbean Naturalist, No. 88 (2022)
Abstract
Chilabothrus argentum (Conception Bank Silver Boa) is endemic to the Conception Island Bank, Bahamas, and is the most endangered boid species globally. Following its discovery in 2015, we have obtained additional important information on the species’ biology and conservation status. Over the course of 4 research expeditions to Conception Island within a period of ~19 months, we collected data on 49 unique boas (28 females, 17 males, 2 juveniles, and 2 neonates). We recaptured 8 boas, for a total of 57 boa encounters and a recapture rate of 18.6% among marked boas. All our encounters with boas occurred within an area of only 5.08 ha, which comprises the extent of the known range of the species. We estimated a census population size of 111.3 boas for the entire species, and a density of 21.9 boas/ha in the core boa area. Females are moderately longer than males and have relatively longer tails, whereas male and female overall head shape is similar, suggesting a lack of allometric scaling in trophic sexual dimorphism. We add additional natural history information based on our research expeditions, including the only documented prey type as well as a preliminary survey of prey availability. Research on this critically endangered and singular population of the species is ongoing and and continues to provide important information contributing to a species conservation action plan.
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