Boidae
Hispaniolan Gracile Boa
HarmlessChilabothrus gracilis
The Hispaniolan Gracile Boa (Chilabothrus gracilis) is a non-venomous snake in the Boidae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Boidae
About the Hispaniolan Gracile Boa
Chilabothrus gracilis is a species of nonvenomous snake in the Boidae family. It is endemic to Hispaniola (split between Haiti and the Dominican Republic).
Description
Adults may attain a total length of 89.5 cm (35+1⁄4 in), which includes a tail 16.5 cm (6+1⁄2 in) long.
Dorsally it is blackish gray, with small black spots, which are arranged in six series running down the body. Ventrally it is lighter in color.
The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 40 rows. Ventrals 282–289; anal plate entire; subcaudals 100-103 also entire.
The body is slender and strongly laterally compressed. Upper labials 11 or 12, the sixth and seventh (or fifth and sixth) entering the eye.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized:
Chilabothrus gracilis gracilis (J.G. Fischer, 1888)
Chilabothrus gracilis hapalus Sheplan & Schwartz, 1974
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Hispaniolan Gracile Boa
- Is the Hispaniolan Gracile Boa venomous?
- No. The Hispaniolan Gracile Boa (Chilabothrus gracilis) 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 Hispaniolan Gracile Boa poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Hispaniolan Gracile Boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Hispaniolan Gracile Boa dangerous?
- The Hispaniolan Gracile Boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Hispaniolan Gracile Boa live?
- The Hispaniolan Gracile Boa has verified records in 3 countries, including Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Boidae snakes
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 gracilis
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.