Boa constrictor imperator
Where
These boa come from one of the many cays (islands) just off the eastern coast of Belize. There are several of these small islands off the coast of Belize and a few unique boa from those cays have made it into captivity. Crawl Cay Boa, also a Belize island boa have been in captivity for a long time as well. There are in very limited numbers also boa supposedly from West Snake Cay, Ambergris Cay and Wee Cay though in such small numbers as to be practically unavailable. The relationship if any between the boa that live on the small islands off the coast of Belize is not perfectly understood. It would seem that each cay is home to a rather unique population of boa. However it is reported that boa have been seen floating on ocean debris between the islands. The Caulkers Cay Boa are seemingly quite inbred and there is little variation in the boa from this island. Considering that hurricanes regularly produce storms that may overcome the islands mere 8 foot elevation above sea level it is quite interesting that these boa are seemingly very fixed genetically. More information about this island can be found at the link below.
SIZE
These are certainly dwarf boa. My adults are nearly ten years old. The female is gravid now. They produced litters in 2012 and 2014. These boa aren’t even four feet long and rather thin though not nearly as thin as boa that have been photographed on the island in the wild. A medium rat is a substantial meal for these boa. The Belize cay boa are possibly some of the most evolved of island boa. Somehow they survive on these tiny islands depending on a very small food resource. It is absolutely fascinating that the boa are able to survive on such stingy rations.
APPEARANCE
These are very much gray-scale boa. The occasional brown specimen is produced in litters although they often grow up to be mostly black, gray and white as well. There is very little color to be found on these boa even as youngsters. The pattern is only somewhat variable. They can have connected saddles or the saddles can be distinct from one another and be very blocky. The most striking examples of these boa have the very blocky saddles. The saddles and speckling are a deep inky black. My male is one of the nicest I’ve seen. As a youngster he gave little clue as to how he would develop. In my collection of boa he is one of those boa who in my mind is the epitome of what I expect a nice example of this type to look like.
These are pure Rio Bravo bloodline boa. The adults were purchased directly from Gus Rentfro.
Some photos of my breeders as juveniles:
A litter of Caulker’s Cay boa born here: