Page 18 - AHATA

Saturday 19 July 2025 locAl
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Snakes you may encounter on Aruba

Santanero land was slightly less than 3 m.
The slender Santanero or Aruban Newborn Boas average 35 cm.
Cat-eyed Snake is a small fella, Boas are not venomous but are
typically less than 50 cm long. This what is called constrictor snakes;
snake is recognizable by the large they kill by wrapping themselves
scales on the top of its head and around a prey and suffocating
by its pattern of dark brown bands them. The most distinctive feature
alternating with light brown bands. of a Boa is its pattern of dark brown
The belly is plain white or cream and tan blotches which become
colored without any markings. Na- red toward the tail. The belly in
tive as well to the island, this snake white or cream colored with nu-
is shy and not aggressive. How- merous black spots. Boas are ex-
ever, it has enlarged teeth at the cellent climbers and may be found
back of its mouth and mild venom in trees and cactus. Boas also hide
which is not dangerous to humans, in the leaves under bushes wait-
but can paralyze small lizards and ing to catch prey that pass. Boas
frogs. Santaneros are most active catch their prey with their teeth
at night when they search for food. and then constrict it in their coils.
During the day, they hide under The Boa’s diet consists of birds, liz-
(Oranjestad)—If you have ever or this snake is also endemic to the rocks or leaves. They frequently ards, rats, mice, and rabbits. Large
will ever go off-roading on the is- island, and its preservation has climb trees and cactus. Santane- Boas have been known to eat
land, you may encounter three become a legal mandate for all ros eat toads, frogs, insects, and small goats and chickens. When
types of snakes that are dominant residents and visitors. Cascabels lizards. You may find Santaneros threatened, Boas will hiss loudly.
on the island. The Cascabel, San- hunt by waiting under bushes and near dams during periods of rainy Boas are a non-native species and
tanero and Boa differ from each fruiting trees to catch passing liz- weather or crossing roads at night. are invasive to the island, risking
other in a couple ways, and local ards, mice, rats, small rabbits, and This snake is found island wide. A the population of native lizards
perspective on each one may help an occasional bird. This is often Santanero in your garden will keep and birds. The first Boas were re-
you understand what you need to considered to be one of the rarest away the unwanted insects. If you ported on the island in 1999. Since
do if you ever were to encounter rattlesnakes in the world. The range encounter a Santanero around that time they have been found
one during your touring session on of the Cascabel is restricted to the your garden, please do not harm across the entire island in all types
the island. rugged and mountainous areas this species. of habitats. If you ever encounter
of the island mostly within Arikok a Boa, please do not approach
Cascabel (Crotalus unicolor) National Park. The Arikok National Boa (Boa constrictor) it. Instead, please call the Arikok
The small Cascabel or Aruba Is- Park was designated in the early Boas are Aruba’s largest snakes. National Park, as they are experi-
land Rattlesnake averages 70 cm 1980s to include most of the rattle- The longest Boa found on the is- enced in handling Boas. q
in length. The body color is often snake’s population, providing a
uniform gray or light brown. There safe refuge in which the snake can
may be a faint pattern of diamond be protected and monitored. The
shaped markings on the back. government has also implemented
This pattern is most noticeable on outreach and education initiatives
younger snakes. The most distinc- to change local perception of the
tive feature of this snake is the snake and highlight its ecological
rattle at the end of its tail which and economic importance – it is
makes a buzzing sound when the now being promoted as a national
snake is alarmed. Cascabels are symbol. Arikok’s partnership with
shy and not aggressive, but their the Toledo zoo has safeguarded
venom can be dangerous to hu- the rattlesnake ex-situ and led to
mans. In fact, it’s the only venom- a number of research projects col-
ous snake native to the island. It is lecting critical data on the Casca-
best to leave this snake alone. Do bel’s abundance, life history and
not attempt to catch or kill it, as it habitat requirement to help guide
could not only be dangerous, but future conservation efforts.