Transcript Boas and (or) Pythons

Boas and Pythons
By: Thaddeus Koneski
BIO 108 Invasive Organisms
Dr. Jerry Skinner
Order: Squamata Family: Boidae
• Boa constrictor
• Range in length: 20 inches as
neonates – 13 feet as adults.
Upwards of 100+ pounds.
• Have heat-sensitive scales while
larger Boidae members have heatsensitive pits on their head.
• Either pink or tan with colored cross
bands.
• Life span: 20-30 years
• Ten subspecies, some with multiple specific
individuals.
• Non-venomous
• Good swimmers
• Females incubate eggs internally and then
give birth to live offspring.
• 20-60 young at a time.
• Can reach 3 feet within a few months of birth.
• Sexually mature at 2-3 years after reaching a
length of 6-10 feet.
Distribution/Habitat
• Native territory throughout Northern Mexico
down to Argentina.
• Most varied habitat of all boas including
elevation and climate (deserts, rain forests,
savannas, fields).
• Low affinity for water.
• Terrestrial and arboreal.
Could it be any more clear?
Diet
• Large lizards, moderate-sized birds,
opossums, bats, mongooses, rats,
and squirrels.
• Mostly rodents but they prefer bats.
• Can become troublesome when in
non-native habitats in populated
areas with pets and children.
Photo of dead python after alligator
clawed it’s hind end out… A widespread mythical fear of monster
sized snakes.
Benefits and Detriments
• Across tropical America boas are prized for
rodent eliminating capabilities. Precisely why
they’ve been naturalized or “domesticated” in
certain areas.
• Spread due to escape from confinement.
• How did they get here?
– Pet trade = $$$$$
– Exotic pets = high value
• Bred and captured to send all over. Including
America!
• Thankfully their necessary habitable
conditions only extend into a small percentage
of the continental U.S. (map from Nat. Geo.)
Order: Squamata Family: Pythonidae
• Python molurus bivittatus
• May reach 15+ feet. 22+ in
captivity.
• Pale tan, yellow-brown, or grey.
Large red blotches circled in
cream/gold.
• Wild lifespan up to 30 years.
Range, Habitat, and Diet
• Native range includes Southern China, Burma,
Indochina, Thailand, and Malay Archipeligo.
• Populations are dependant on a permanent
source of water.
• Rainforests, grasslands, swamps, marshes,
rocky foothills.
• Prey: mammals, reptiles, birds.
• Protected in their native range due to
immediate killing for marketable goods.
Distribution
2009 USGS distribution map of areas
where Burmese pythons thrive in the
U.S.A.
2009 USGS map of U.S.A. climate
suitable to native climate of Burmese
pythons.
Impact
• “We identified 25 species of birds representing nine avian Orders from
remains in digestive tracts of 85 Burmese pythons (Python molurus
bivittatus) collected in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, from
2003 to 2008. Four species of birds identified in this study are of
special concern in Florida and a fifth, the Wood Stork (Mycteria
americana), is listed as federally endangered. This represents the first
detailed analysis of the avian component of the diet of the introduced
Burmese python, now established in Everglades National Park, Florida
and highlights the potential for considerable negative impact of this
invasive species on native bird populations.”
• Consumption of numerous native birds including an endangered
species.
• Study accounts for a significant but still small sample of invasive
pythons.
Impact
• "Wildlife managers are concerned that these snakes, which
can grow to over 20 feet long and more than 250 pounds,
pose a danger to state- and federally listed threatened and
endangered species as well as to humans," said Bob Reed, a
USGS wildlife biologist at the Fort Collins Science Center in
Colorado, who helped develop the maps. "Several
endangered species," he noted, "have already been found in
the snakes' stomachs. Pythons could have even more
significant environmental and economic consequences if they
were to spread from Florida to other states.“
• Multiple endangered species are being threatened by the
Burmese python.
• Greater threat to more species considering spread into other
states
Controls
• Manual removal of pest snakes.
• Prohibition of non-native snake trade.
• Public awareness of results of pet release
References
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http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Boac
onstrictor.cfm
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1439&fr=1&sts=&lang=
EN
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/boa-constrictor/
http://www.wonderclub.com/Wildlife/reptiles/BoaConstrictor.html
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Bur
meserockpython.cfm
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reptileknowledge.com/i
mages/floridamaplarge.png&imgrefurl=http://www.reptileknowledge.com/articles/article22
.php&usg=__JzCEkb__0qKisD6LQsZ7lA7pdAQ=&h=450&w=600&sz=51&hl=en
&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=UhwPW0yF7xn_2M:&tbnh=163&tbnw=217&ei=2p
GxTYfYKuHm0QGkvMz1CA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dburmese%2Bpython%2Bdi
stribution%2Bmap%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1276%2
6bih%3D849%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=219&page=1&nds
p=20&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&tx=128&ty=55
References
• http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ianramjohn.files.wordpress
.com/2008/02/map_climatematch.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ianramjohn.word
press.com/2008/02/27/burmese-pythons-invadingcalifornia/&usg=__vcoFYMYun9a268ZTZG2ezzlcgfw=&h=1050&w=1350&s
z=413&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Vx9ooogohFMyxM:&tbnh=167&tb
nw=215&ei=2pGxTYfYKuHm0QGkvMz1CA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dburmes
e%2Bpython%2Bdistribution%2Bmap%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3
DN%26biw%3D1276%26bih%3D849%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=
hc&vpx=855&vpy=280&dur=3526&hovh=198&hovw=255&tx=166&ty=10
1&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0
• http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1676/10-092.1
• http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1875
THANK YOU!