Species of the Day: Round Island Keel-scaled Boa
© Nik Cole, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Species of the Day: Round Island Keel-scaled Boa
Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org www.durrell.org Help Save Species www.arkive.org
The Round Island Keel-scaled Boa, Casarea dussumieri, is classified as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Following the arrival of people on Mauritius in the 16th century, the boa became restricted to the remote northern island, Round Island. This island has an area of 2.15 km2 and currently supports an estimated 1,000 boas. The Round Island Keel-scaled Boa is the only remaining member of the Bolyeridae family, and therefore has a unique jaw adapted to feeding upon other reptiles. Introduced mammalian predators, such as rats, which decimate island reptile populations, are the main threat to this species. However, Round Island is one of the few islands in the Indian Ocean that has never been invaded by rats. For this reason, the Round Island Keel-scaled Boa still survives. The removal of introduced rabbits and goats from Round Island, followed by extensive habitat restoration, has allowed reptile, including boa, populations to grow. There are plans to reintroduce this species back within its former range as part of conservation efforts to restore natural island communities around Mauritius.
Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
Species of the Day: Round Island Keel-scaled Boa
Geographical range
www.iucnredlist.org www.durrell.org Help Save Species www.arkive.org
The Round Island Keel-scaled Boa, Casarea dussumieri, is classified as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Following the arrival of people on Mauritius in the 16th century, the boa became restricted to the remote northern island, Round Island. This island has an area of 2.15 km2 and currently supports an estimated 1,000 boas. The Round Island Keel-scaled Boa is the only remaining member of the Bolyeridae family, and therefore has a unique jaw adapted to feeding upon other reptiles. Introduced mammalian predators, such as rats, which decimate island reptile populations, are the main threat to this species. However, Round Island is one of the few islands in the Indian Ocean that has never been invaded by rats. For this reason, the Round Island Keel-scaled Boa still survives. The removal of introduced rabbits and goats from Round Island, followed by extensive habitat restoration, has allowed reptile, including boa, populations to grow. There are plans to reintroduce this species back within its former range as part of conservation efforts to restore natural island communities around Mauritius.
Species of the Day is sponsored by
The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.
