Conception Bank silver boa
{{Short description|Species of snake}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Conception Bank silver boa
| image =
| image_caption =
| status = CR
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Chilabothrus
| species = argentum
| authority = Reynolds et al., 2016
}}
The Conception Bank silver boa (Chilabothrus argentum), also known as the Conception Bank boa or silver boa, is a species of boa described in May 2016 by a team of researchers from Harvard University led by Dr. R. Graham Reynolds. It is only known from the Conception Island Bank in the Bahamas. It is the first known discovery of a West Indian boa species in 73 years.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sci-news.com/biology/silver-boa-new-snake-species-bahamas-03904.html|title=Silver Boa: Scientists Discover New Snake Species in Bahamas |website=Sci-News.com|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-31}} It is named for its unique silver color and the fact that the first specimen was found in a silver palm. It is the most endangered boa in the world, with fewer than 150 individuals in an area of just 5 hectares.{{Cite journal |last=Reynolds |first=R. Graham |last2=Puente-Rolón |first2=Alberto R. |last3=Geneva |first3=Anthony J. |date=August 2022 |title=Natural History and Morphometrics of the Newly Discovered and Critically Endangered Conception Bank Silver Boa (Chilabothrus argentum; Squamata; Boidae) |url=https://www.eaglehill.us/CANAonline/CANA-access-pages/CANA-regular/CANA-088-Reynolds.shtml |journal=Caribbean Naturalist |volume=88 |pages=1–20 |issn=2326-7119}}
Description
Conception Bank silver boas have silver to tan dorsal background coloration, with or without scattered dark brown scales. Ventral scales are pure cream-white. Juveniles undergo ontogenetic color change, from a light brownish-orange coloration with heavy patterning as neonates to the adult coloration around 400-500 mm snout-vent length. They measure {{convert|88|-|103|cm|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length and weigh {{convert|182|-|258|g|abbr=on}}. Tail length varies between {{convert|18|and|21|cm|abbr=on}}. There is one loreal scale, 275–282 ventral scales, 82–91 subcaudal scales,11–12 supralabial scales, and ten circumorbital scales. Males and females do not differ in the shape of their heads, although males might have slightly larger eyes relative to body size.
Habitat and biology
The Conception Bank silver boa is largely arboreal and has been found in silver palm Coccothrinax argentata and gumbo-limbo Bursera simaruba. It is thought that the species mostly feeds on birds, with juveniles possibly feeding on Anolis sagrei lizards.{{Cite book |last=Reynolds |first=R. Graham |title=Boas of the West Indies |last2=Henderson |first2=Robert W. |last3=Díaz |first3=Luis M. |last4=Rodríguez-Cabrera |first4=Tomás M. |last5=Puente-Rolón |first5=Alberto R. |date=March 15, 2023 |publisher=Comstock Publishing Associates |isbn=9781501765452 |location=Ithaca}}
Conservation
The species is known from six individuals encountered in July 2015 by a research team from Harvard University, and from the type series of two individuals collected in October 2015. A total of 49 individuals have been observed by researchers between 2015 and 2017.
It has been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is considered "Critically Endangered" in view of its small area of occurrence as well as potential threats posed by introduced species, habitat loss, and (illegal) pet trade.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-26 |title=Silver Boa: the new treasure of the Bahamas |url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/silver-boa-the-new-treasure-of-the-bahamas |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=BBC Science Focus Magazine |language=en}} Some level of protection is offered by the Conception Island Bank being designated as a national park, and by the relative remoteness of the islands. However, a daily satellite imagery study between 2016 and 2021 found that several hundred vessels visit Conception Island Bank yearly.{{Cite journal |last=Reynolds |first=R.G. |last2=Cone |first2=A. |date=November 2023 |title=Characterization of visitation of the remote Conception Island National Park using daily satellite imagery |url=https://parksjournal.com/parks-29-2-november-2023/ |journal=PARKS The International Journal of Protected Areas and Conservation |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=105-113}}
In popular culture
The Conception Bank silver boa is a featured part of the story in T.C. Boyle's novel Blue Skies.{{Cite book |last=Boyle |first=T. C. |title=Blue Skies |date=May 16, 2023 |publisher=Liveright |isbn=978-1324093022}} The discovery of the Silver Boa and researcher R. Graham Reynolds are featured in the book Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science.{{Cite book |last=Nye |first=Bill |title=Bill Nye's Great Big World of Science |date=2020 |publisher=Abrams, Inc |others=Gregory Mone |isbn=978-1-4197-4676-5 |location=New York, NY}}
Media
The discovery of the Conception Bank silver boa was featured in global news media outlets, including National Geographic,{{Cite web |date=2016-05-26 |title=New Species of Silver Snake Is Extremely Endangered |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/snakes-animals-science-new-species-conservation |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Animals |language=en}} The Independent,{{Cite web |date=2016-05-27 |title=Scientists discover beautiful new snake – and it's already endangered |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/scientists-discover-new-species-of-stunning-silver-snake-in-bahamas-a7050746.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=The Independent |language=en}} El Mundo,{{Cite web |date=2016-05-27 |title=Una nueva boa de color plata |url=https://www.elmundo.es/ciencia/2016/05/27/57471a82468aeb86778b4572.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}} BBC Science Focus,{{Cite web |date=2016-05-26 |title=Silver Boa: the new treasure of the Bahamas |url=https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/silver-boa-the-new-treasure-of-the-bahamas |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=BBC Science Focus Magazine |language=en}} Newsweek,{{Cite web |last=Shilling |first=Erik |date=2016-05-27 |title=A Previously Undiscovered Boa Constrictor Has Been Found |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/a-previously-undiscovered-boa-constrictor-has-been-found |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}} Scientific American,{{Cite web |last=Platt |first=John R. |title=Shiny, Metallic Snake Is a Critically Endangered New Species |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/extinction-countdown/shiny-snake/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Scientific American |language=en}} and Atlas Obscura.{{Cite web |last=Shilling |first=Erik |date=2016-05-27 |title=A Previously Undiscovered Boa Constrictor Has Been Found |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/a-previously-undiscovered-boa-constrictor-has-been-found |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{NRDB species |genus=Chilabothrus |species=argentum |accessdate=3 March 2020}}
}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q24910379}}
Category:Reptiles of the Bahamas
Category:Endemic fauna of the Bahamas