Slide 2 Virgin Islands Tree Boa Janna Sasser AP Biology March
18, 2011 Slide 3 Body Description The only native snake with
blotches Small and non-venomous Grows to about 3 feet in length
Adults are brown in color with brown markings running along the
body A newly shed boa will have a blue- purple iridescence Babies
are light gray with black markings Babies change to adult
coloration as they mature Slide 4 Circulatory System Closed
circulatory system Ectothermic Three-chambered heart composed of
one atria and one large ventricle Heart is enclosed in a sac, but
is able to move around due to lack of a diaphragm Slide 5
Reproduction Primitive placental attachment from mother to young
The young are born alive in litters of 2-10 They usually produce
young every year Usually born in late August-October Young must get
their own food within three weeks of birth to survive There is no
maternal care Slide 6 Growth/Development Young snakes begin to feed
immediately after birth Rate of growth correlates with the
availability of food and temperatures high enough to permit full
metabolic activity Has intermediate growth, meaning there is no
terminal point in time or size for growth in their lifetime Molting
occurs regularly, which is the shedding of the first layer of skin
Sexual maturity is reached in about 2 years Slide 7 Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata
Family: Boidae Genus: Epicrates Specific Name: Monensis Subspecies:
Granti Scientific Name: Epicrates Monensis Granti Slide 8 Habitat
Found in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and other nearby islands
Prefers open woodlands and coastal forests Active mostly at night
and mostly in trees Stays in shelter or in a crevice during the day
Comes out to feed on anole lizards Slide 9 Why is it endangered?
Loss of habitat Unlike other snakes, it needs a hot, dry climate,
which restricts the species to one area St. Thomas The St. Thomas
area is being lost to commercial and residential development Slide
10 Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwN3IWu05cE
