Habitat: Rain forest of Puerto Rico
Status: Endangered
DAK Locale: Rafiki's Planet Watch
The Puerto Rican boa is a terrestrial snake native exclusively to the island of Puerto Rico. It is one of the rainbow boas of the New World and, as such, is a true boa. It grows to 6 to 9 feet.
It feeds on birds, mammals and reptiles. Like all boas, it kills its prey by coiling around the potential meal. It continues to squeeze until suffocating the victim. The meal is then swallowed head first. This species of boa prefers caves. Thus, bats make up a large portion of the diet.
The species has been effected by the introduction of the mongoose to the island's habitat. At the beginning of the last century, the boa was nearly wiped out. It was also hunted and the loss of its forest have also contributed to its decline. However, due to protective measures, it has begun to recover.
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