Page 8 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Wednesday 13 January 2021

Snakes of Aruba

ORANJESTAD — Arikok is restricted to the rugged
National Park is home to and mountainous areas
various unique plant and of the island mostly within
animal species such as Arikok National Park. The
Aruba’s rare endemic rat- Arikok National Park was
tlesnake Crotalus unicolor). designated in the early
This rattlesnake is locally 1980s to include most of the
known as the ‘Cascabel’. rattlesnake’s population,
But Aruba has two more providing a safe refuge in
snake species living on the which the snake can be
island: the Santanero and protected and monitored.
the Boa. The government has also
implemented outreach
Cascabel (Crotalus unicol- and education initiatives
or) to change local percep-
tion of the snake and high-
light its ecological and
economic importance – it
is now being promoted as
a national symbol. Arikok’s
partnership with the Toledo
zoo has safeguarded the
rattlesnake ex-situ and led ored without any markings. and may be found in trees
to a number of research This snake is shy and not and cactus. Boas also hide
projects collecting critical aggressive. However, it has in the leaves under bushes
data on the Cascabel’s enlarged teeth at the back waiting to catch prey that
The small Cascabel or Aru- abundance, life history of its mouth and mild ven- pass. Boas catch their prey
ba Island Rattlesnake aver- and habitat requirement to om which is not dangerous with their teeth and then
ages 70 cm in length. The help guide future conser- to humans. However, the constrict it in their coils. The
body color is often uniform vation efforts. venom can paralyze small Boa’s diet consists of birds,
gray or light brown. There lizards and frogs. Santane- lizards, rats, mice, and rab-
may be a faint pattern of Santanero ros are most active at night bits. Large Boas have been
diamond shaped markings when they search for food. known to eat small goats
on the back. This pattern is During the day, they hide born Boas average 35 cm. and chickens. When threat-
most noticeable on young- under rocks or leaves. They Boas are not venomous. ened, Boas will hiss loudly.
er snakes. The most distinc- frequently climb trees and The most distinctive fea- Boas are a non-native spe-
tive feature of this snake is cactus. Santaneros eat ture of a Boa is its pattern of cies. The first Boas were
the rattle at the end of its toads, frogs, insects, and dark brown and tan blotch- reported on the island in
tail which makes a buzz- lizards. You may find San- es which become red to- 1999. Since that time they
ing sound when the snake taneros near dams during ward the tail. The belly in have been found across
is alarmed. Cascabels are periods of rainy weather or white or cream colored the entire island in all types
shy and not aggressive, but crossing roads at night. This with numerous black spots. of habitats. Source: Nation-
their venom can be dan- snake is found island wide. Boas are excellent climbers al Park Aruba. q
gerous to humans. It is best A Santanero in your garden
to leave this snake alone. will keep away the unwant-
Do not attempt to catch The slender Santanero or ed insects. If you encoun-
or kill it. Cascabels hunt by Aruban Cat-eyed Snake ter a Santanero around
waiting under bushes and is typically less than 50 cm your garden, please do not
fruiting trees to catch pass- long. This snake is recogniz- harm this species.
ing lizards, mice, rats, small able by the large scales on
rabbits, and an occasional the top of its head and by Boa (Boa constrictor)
bird. This is often consid- its pattern of dark brown Boas are Aruba’s largest
ered to be one of the rarest bands alternating with light snakes. The longest Boa
rattlesnakes in the world. brown bands. The belly is found on the island was
The range of the Cascabel plain white or cream col- slightly less than 3 m. New-