Candoia bibroni

{{Speciesbox

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = Allison A, Hamilton A, Tallowin O (2012). "Candoia bibroni ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T176188A1435600.en. Downloadedon 22 July 2021.

| image = MP-candoia bibroni.jpg

| image_caption =

| genus = Candoia

| species = bibroni

| authority = (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844)

| synonyms =

Enygrus Bibroni
{{small|A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844}}
Enygrus Bibroni
{{small|— Jacquinot & Guichenot
in Hombron & Jacquinot, 1853}}
Enygrus Bibronii
{{small|— Günther, 1858}}
Enygrus bibronii
{{small|— Boulenger, 1893}}
Enygrus bibroni bibroni
{{small|— Sternfeld, 1920}}
Candoia bibroni
{{small|— Frazzetta, 1959}}
Candoia bibroni bibroni
{{small|— Stimson, 1969}}

| synonyms_ref =McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. Washington, District of Columbia: Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. {{ISBN|1-893777-00-6}} (series). {{ISBN|1-893777-01-4}} (volume).

}}

Candoia bibroni—commonly known as Bibron's bevel-nosed boa, Bibron's keel-scaled boa, the Pacific tree boa{{ITIS|id=174323|taxon=Candoia bibroni |accessdate=14 July 2008}} or the Fiji boaMehrtens JM (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. {{ISBN|0-8069-6460-X}}.—is a species of boa, a group of non-venomous, constricting snakes, endemic to the southern Pacific Ocean island chains of Melanesia and Polynesia. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies, described here. Candoia bibroni is one of the most isolated and far-removed species of boid snakes on earth, as the majority of boa species (such as Boa constrictor) are found in the Americas and the Caribbean, or, in the case of the terrestrial sand boas (subfamily: Erycinae), in Africa and Eurasia.

Etymology

The specific name, bibroni, is in honor of French herpetologist Gabriel Bibron.Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (Candoia bibroni, p. 25).

Description

C. bibroni is the largest member of the genus Candoia; adults can grow to up to 5 ft /1.5 meters in total length (including the tail). The color pattern usually consists of a pale brown, tan, or reddish-brown ground color overlaid with stripes, blotches, or spots. However, some individuals have no pattern at all.

Geographic range

Candoia bibroni is found in the South Pacific, primarily across the islands of Melanesia and Polynesia, including the eastern Solomon Islands (Olu Malau, Ugi, Rennell, Makira, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Bellona, Vanikoro and Utupua),{{Cite web |date=28 May 2016 |title=Observations • iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?order=asc&place_id=7081&subview=table&taxon_id=32116 }} the Banks Islands (Vanua Lava), Vanuatu (Efate, Erromango, Espiritu Santo),{{Cite web |date=28 May 2016 |title=Observations • iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?order=asc&place_id=7082&subview=table&taxon_id=32116 }} the Loyalty Islands (Lifou, Ouvéa, Tiga),{{Cite web |date=3 August 2020 |title=Observations • iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=-20.3888761&nelng=168.1332071&order=asc&place_id=any&subview=table&swlat=-21.662435&swlng=166.1343991&taxon_id=32116 }} Fiji—including Kadavu, Rotuma, Ovalau, Taveuni, the Mamanuca (Malolo, Mana), Yasawa and Lau Islands—,{{Cite web |date=11 May 2018 |title=Observations • iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=7332&subview=table&taxon_id=32116 }} Tuvalu,{{Cite web |date=11 December 2019 |title=Observations • iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?order=asc&place_id=10315&subview=table&taxon_id=32116 }} Western Samoa (Savaiʻi and Upolu), and American Samoa (Taʻū).{{Cite web |date=1 August 2014 |title=Observations • iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=map&taxon_id=32116 }}

The type locality given is "l'île Viti" (local name of Fiji Islands archipelago). Jacquinot and Guichenot (1853) list the type locality as "de l'archipel de Viti, Polynésie".

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of C. bibroni is forest, at altitudes from sea level to {{convert|1,600|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

Feeding

Candoia bibroni is both an arboreal and a terrestrial hunter, preying primarily on birds, lizards (such as the many insular gecko and skink species) and small mammals, including rodents and bats.

Reproduction

C. bibroni is viviparous.{{EMBL species|genus=Candoia|species=bibroni}} www.reptile-database.org.

Subspecies

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!bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Subspecies

!bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Taxon author

!bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Common name

!bgcolor="#f0f0f0"|Geographic range

C. b. australis

|(Montrouzier, 1860)

|Solomon Islands tree boa

|style="width:40%"|Solomon Islands/Tonga Island

C. b. bibroni

|(A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1844)

|Pacific tree boa

|the South Pacific Islands