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Monday 10 June 2024 locAl
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Snakes you may encounter on Aruba

(Oranjestad)—If you have leaves under bushes waiting
ever or will ever go off- to catch prey that pass. Boas
roading on the island, you catch their prey with their
may encounter three types teeth and then constrict it
of snakes that are dominant in their coils. The Boa’s diet
on the island. The Cascabel, consists of birds, lizards, rats,
Santanero and Boa differ mice, and rabbits. Large
from each other in a couple Boas have been known to
ways, and local perspective eat small goats and chick-
on each one may help you ens. When threatened, Boas
understand what you need will hiss loudly.
to do if you ever were to
encounter one during your Boas are a non-native spe-
touring session on the island. cies and are invasive to the
island, risking the population
Cascabel (Crotalus of native lizards and birds.
unicolor) The first Boas were reported
The small Cascabel or Aruba on the island in 1999. Since
Island Rattlesnake averages that time they have been
70 cm in length. The body found across the entire is-
color is often uniform gray or land in all types of habitats.
light brown. There may be If you ever encounter a Boa,
a faint pattern of diamond please do not approach
shaped markings on the mostly within Arikok Nation- is recognizable by the large or cream colored with nu- it. Instead, please call the
back. This pattern is most no- al Park. The Arikok National scales on the top of its head merous black spots. Boas Arikok National Park, as they
ticeable on younger snakes. Park was designated in the and by its pattern of dark are excellent climbers and are experienced in handling
The most distinctive feature early 1980s to include most brown bands alternating may be found in trees and Boas.q
of this snake is the rattle at the of the rattlesnake’s popula- with light brown bands. The cactus. Boas also hide in the
end of its tail which makes tion, providing a safe refuge belly is plain white or cream
a buzzing sound when the in which the snake can be colored without any mark-
snake is alarmed. Cascabels protected and monitored. ings. Native as well to the is-
are shy and not aggressive, The government has also land, this snake is shy and not
but their venom can be dan- implemented outreach aggressive. However, it has
gerous to humans. In fact, and education initiatives to enlarged teeth at the back
it’s the only venomous snake change local perception of of its mouth and mild venom
native to the island. It is best the snake and highlight its which is not dangerous to
to leave this snake alone. Do ecological and economic humans, but can paralyze
not attempt to catch or kill it, importance – it is now be- small lizards and frogs. San-
as it could not only be dan- ing promoted as a national taneros are most active at
gerous, but this snake is also symbol. Arikok’s partnership night when they search for
endemic to the island, and with the Toledo zoo has safe- food. During the day, they
its preservation has become guarded the rattlesnake ex- hide under rocks or leaves.
a legal mandate for all resi- situ and led to a number of They frequently climb trees
dents and visitors. research projects collecting and cactus. Santaneros eat
Cascabels hunt by waiting critical data on the Casca- toads, frogs, insects, and liz-
under bushes and fruiting bel’s abundance, life history ards. You may find Santane-
trees to catch passing liz- and habitat requirement to ros near dams during periods
ards, mice, rats, small rab- help guide future conserva- of rainy weather or crossing
bits, and an occasional bird. tion efforts. roads at night. This snake is
This is often considered to be found island wide. A Santan-
one of the rarest rattlesnakes Santanero ero in your garden will keep
in the world. The range of The slender Santanero or away the unwanted insects.
the Cascabel is restricted Aruban Cat-eyed Snake is If you encounter a Santanero
to the rugged and moun- a small fella, typically less around your garden, please
tainous areas of the island than 50 cm long. This snake do not harm this species.

Boa (Boa constrictor)
Boas are Aruba’s largest
snakes. The longest Boa
found on the island was
slightly less than 3 m. New-
born Boas average 35 cm.
Boas are not venomous but
are what is called constrictor
snakes; they kill by wrapping
themselves around a prey
and suffocating them. The
most distinctive feature of
a Boa is its pattern of dark
brown and tan blotches
which become red toward
the tail. The belly in white