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local Tuesday 14 May 2024

Snakes you may encounter

on Aruba

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