Dumeril's ground boa (Acrantophis dumerili)
Personal information
There is one Dumeril's ground boa at the Zoo.
Status in the Wild
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status: Least concern. Listed as CITES Appendix I, which puts strict limits on its exportation from Madagascar. Their numbers are declining due to habitat destruction in order to create agricultural areas or grazing for livestock; they are killed due to fear and superstition. Their skins are sold in the markets of Madagascar as well as other countries. They are also exported to be sold in the pet trade.
Diet
Small animals such as birds, lizards and frogs.
Habitat
This snake is found along the western coast and southwestern regions of Madagascar. The preferred habitat of the Dumeril’s boa is a semi-arid forested area with low amounts of rainfall.
- Six to eight months after mating, females give birth to a litter anywhere from around 6 up to nearly 30 babies, each measuring 12 to 18 inches
- Dumeril's have some interesting behavior differences from most other boa species, particularly their style of ambush hunting.