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LOCAL Thursday 27 January 2022

Snakes of Aruba

ORANJESTAD — Arikok the Cascabel is restricted ception of the snake and
National Park is home to to the rugged and moun- highlight its ecological and
various unique plant and tainous areas of the island economic importance – it
animal species such as mostly within Arikok Nation- is now being promoted as
Aruba’s rare endemic rat- al Park. The Arikok National a national symbol. Arikok’s
tlesnake Crotalus unicolor. Park was designated in the partnership with the Toledo
This rattlesnake is locally early 1980s to include most zoo has safeguarded the
known as the ‘Cascabel’. of the rattlesnake’s popu- rattlesnake ex-situ and led
lation, providing a safe ref- to a number of research
Cascabel (Crotalus unicol- uge in which the snake can projects collecting critical
or) be protected and moni- data on the Cascabel’s
tored. The government abundance, life history
The small Cascabel or Aru- has also implemented out- and habitat requirement to
ba Island Rattlesnake aver- reach and education initia- help guide future conser-
ages 70 cm in length. The tives to change local per- vation efforts.q
body color is often uniform
gray or light brown. There
may be a faint pattern of
diamond shaped markings
on the back. This pattern is
most noticeable on young-
er snakes. The most distinc-
tive feature of this snake is
the rattle at the end of its
tail which makes a buzz-
ing sound when the snake
is alarmed. Cascabels are
shy and not aggressive, but
their venom can be dan-
gerous to humans. It is best
to leave this snake alone.
Do not attempt to catch
or kill it. Cascabels hunt
by waiting under bushes
and fruiting trees to catch
passing lizards, mice, rats,
small rabbits, and an oc-
casional bird. This is often
considered to be one of
the rarest rattlesnakes in
the world. The range of
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