# Chilabothrus angulifer The Chilabothrus angulifer, also known as the Cuban boa, is a large snake that can be found in Cuba. It has beautiful patterns on its scales and is known for being a great climber in trees. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Cuban Boa ![Chilabothrus angulifer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/EpicratesAngulifer1.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. KaroH assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EpicratesAngulifer1.jpg) ## Appearance The Chilabothrus angulifer is a robust snake, typically yellowish-brown to grayish with dark, angular blotches that often fuse into a zigzag pattern. Its scales can have an iridescent sheen, shimmering in different lights, making it quite striking. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Boidae - **Genus:** Chilabothrus ## Interesting facts - Baby Cuban Boas are born live, not in eggs, and can hunt right away! - Cuban Boas are one of the largest snake species native to the Caribbean. - Sometimes, many Cuban Boas will share the same tree during the day! - They often bask in the sun to warm their bodies after cool nights. ## Special abilities - **Thermal Vision:** Chilabothrus angulifer can 'see' in the dark using special heat-sensing pits around its mouth, which helps them find warm-blooded prey. - **Constricting Power:** Chilabothrus angulifer can wrap its powerful body around prey, squeezing tightly to stop breathing and subdue it quickly. - **Gripping Tail:** Chilabothrus angulifer has a strong, prehensile tail that helps it grip branches securely while climbing high in trees to hunt. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 100-480 cm - **Weight:** 5-27 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-25 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-20 ## Diet & Feeding These large snakes hunt for small mammals and birds in trees and on the ground. - **Primary Foods:** Bats, Rodents, Birds, Lizards - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Waterhouse's Leaf-nosed Bat (*Macrotus waterhousii*) — hunts bats as they emerge from caves - **Eats:** [Black Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rat) (*Rattus rattus*) — preys on introduced rodents, helping control their populations - **Eats:** Red-legged Thrush (*Turdus plumbeus*) — ambushes birds from perches in trees and shrubs - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — juvenile snakes are sometimes prey for large birds of prey ## Traits - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always keep a safe distance from snakes and never try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Chilabothrus angulifer? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Chilabothrus angulifer? 100-480 cm ### How much does Chilabothrus angulifer weigh? 5-27 kg ### How long does Chilabothrus angulifer live? 15-25 years ### How fast can Chilabothrus angulifer move? 8 km/h ### What does Chilabothrus angulifer eat? These large snakes hunt for small mammals and birds in trees and on the ground. ### Where is Chilabothrus angulifer usually found? Forests ### How does Chilabothrus angulifer hunt? Ambush ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Chilabothrus angulifer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chilabothrus-angulifer)