Bibron's Bevel-nosed Boa

Candoia bibroni—commonly known as Bibron's bevel-nosed boa, Bibron's keel-scaled boa, the Pacific tree boa or the Fiji boa—is a species of boa, a group of non-venomous, constricting snakes, endemic to the southern Pacific Ocean island chains of Melanesia and Polynesia. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies, described here. Candoia bibroni is one of the most isolated and far-removed species of boid snakes on earth, as the majority of boa species (such as Boa constrictor) are found in the Americas and the Caribbean, or, in the case of the terrestrial sand boas (subfamily: Erycinae), in Africa and Eurasia.

Etymology

The specific name, bibroni, is in honor of French herpetologist Gabriel Bibron.

Description

C. bibroni is the largest member of the genus Candoia; adults can grow to up to 5 ft /1.5 meters in total length (including the tail). The color pattern usually consists of a pale brown, tan, or reddish-brown ground color overlaid with stripes, blotches, or spots. However, some individuals have no pattern at all.

Geographic range

Candoia bibroni is found in the South Pacific, primarily across the islands of Melanesia and Polynesia, including the eastern Solomon Islands (Olu Malau, Ugi, Rennell, Makira, Santa Ana, Santa Cruz, Bellona, Vanikoro and Utupua), the Banks Islands (Vanua Lava), Vanuatu (Efate, Erromango, Espiritu Santo), the Loyalty Islands (Lifou, Ouvéa, Tiga), Fiji—including Kadavu, Rotuma, Ovalau, Taveuni, the Mamanuca (Malolo, Mana), Yasawa and Lau Islands—, Tuvalu, Western Samoa (Savaiʻi and Upolu), and American Samoa (Taʻū).

The type locality given is "l'île Viti" (local name of Fiji Islands archipelago). Jacquinot and Guichenot (1853) list the type locality as "de l'archipel de Viti, Polynésie".

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of C. bibroni is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft).

Feeding

Candoia bibroni is both an arboreal and a terrestrial hunter, preying primarily on birds, lizards (such as the many insular gecko and skink species) and small mammals, including rodents and bats.

Reproduction

C. bibroni is viviparous.

Subspecies