Boidae
Abaco Island Boa
HarmlessChilabothrus exsul

The Abaco Island Boa (Chilabothrus exsul) is a non-venomous snake in the Boidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Boidae
About the Abaco Island Boa
Chilabothrus exsul, the Abaco Island boa or Northern Bahamas boa, is a boa species found in the Bahamas. No subspecies are currently recognized. Like all other boas, it is not venomous.
Description
Slender and terrestrial with an iridescent reddish sheen. It grows to a maximum of 80 cm (31 in) in length and feeds on small mammals, birds and lizards.
Distribution and habitat
Found in the Bahamas on Grand Bahama Island and Great Abaco Island, including Elbow Cay and Little Abaco Island. The type locality given is "Near Blackrock (approximately 26°49'N. lat. and 77°25'30"W. long.) on the east coast of Great Abaco in the Bahamas."
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Abaco Island Boa
- Is the Abaco Island Boa venomous?
- No. The Abaco Island Boa (Chilabothrus exsul) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Abaco Island Boa poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Abaco Island Boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Abaco Island Boa dangerous?
- The Abaco Island Boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Abaco Island Boa live?
- The Abaco Island Boa has verified records in 1 country, including Bahamas. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Boidae snakes
Puerto Rican BoaChilabothrus inornatus
Hispaniolan BoaChilabothrus striatus
Cuban Tree BoaChilabothrus angulifer
Bahamian BoaChilabothrus strigilatus
Jamaican BoaChilabothrus subflavus
Southern Bahamas boaChilabothrus chrysogaster
Hispaniolan Gracile BoaChilabothrus gracilis
Virgin Islands boaChilabothrus granti
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Boidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Chilabothrus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Chilabothrus exsul
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.