Tropidophiidae
Little Cayman Dwarf Boa
HarmlessTropidophis parkeri
The Little Cayman Dwarf Boa (Tropidophis parkeri) is a non-venomous snake in the Tropidophiidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Tropidophiidae
About the Little Cayman Dwarf Boa
The Little Cayman Dwarf Boa belongs to the Tropidophiidae family, dwarf boas. Small New-World boas that can bleed from the eyes when threatened.
Dwarf boas are small, harmless constrictors of the American tropics. Several have the startling defense of voluntarily bleeding from the mouth and eyes, alongside coiling into a ball and discharging musk.
Its genus, Tropidophis, covers dwarf boas (West Indian dwarf boas). Small, secretive New World snakes famous for a strange defense: they bleed from the eyes and mouth and play dead when threatened.
The Little Cayman Dwarf Boa is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.
It has been recorded in Cayman Islands.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Little Cayman Dwarf Boa
- Is the Little Cayman Dwarf Boa venomous?
- No. The Little Cayman Dwarf Boa (Tropidophis parkeri) 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 Little Cayman Dwarf Boa poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Little Cayman Dwarf Boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Little Cayman Dwarf Boa dangerous?
- The Little Cayman Dwarf Boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Little Cayman Dwarf Boa live?
- The Little Cayman Dwarf Boa has verified records in 1 country, including Cayman Islands. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Tropidophiidae snakes
Northern Eyelash BoaTropidophis boulengeri
Cuban Dwarf BoaTropidophis melanurus
Haitian Dwarf BoaTropidophis haetianus
Cayman Islands Dwarf BoaTropidophis caymanensis
Northern Bahamas TropeTropidophis curtus
Ambergris Cay Dwarf BoaTropidophis greenwayi
Brazilian Dwarf BoaTropidophis paucisquamis
Spotted Brown TropeTropidophis pardalis
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
- Tropidophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Tropidophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Tropidophis parkeri
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. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.