Bothrochilus boa

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Henophidia

Familia: Pythonidae
Subfamilia: Pythoninae
Genus: Bothrochilus
Species: Bothrochilus boa
Name

Bothrochilus boa (Schlegel, 1837)

Type locality: Bismarck Archipelago (New Ireland)

Holotype: M.H.N.P. no. 7172
Synonyms

Tortrix boa Schlegel, 1837: 22
Nardoa Schlegelii Gray, 1842 (nomen substitutum pro Tortrix boa Schlegel)
Bothrochilus boa — Fitzinger, 1843: 24
Nardoa Schlegelii — Duméril & Bibron, 1844: 447
Nardoa boa — Boulenger, 1893: 76
Nardoa boa — De Rooij, 1917: 15
Bothrochilus boa — Stimson, 1969
Morelia boa — Underwood & Stimson, 1990: 602
Bothrochilus boa — McDiarmid, Campbell & Touré, 1999: 166
Liasis boa — Rauh, 2004

References

Schlegel, H. 1837. Essai sur la physionomie des serpens. Partie Générale: xxviii +251 S. + Partie Descriptive: 606 S. + xvi. La Haye (J. Kips, J. HZ. et W. P. van Stockum)
Fitzinger, L. 1843. Systema Reptilium, fasciculus primus, Amblyglossae. Braumüller et Seidel, Wien: 106 pp.
Bothrochilus boa (Schlegel, 1837) – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Bothrochilus boa at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 21 Jule 2009.

Vernacular names
English: Bismarck ringed python
polski: Pyton obrączkowany

The Bismarck ringed python (Bothrochilus boa) is a species of snake in the genus Bothrochilus[3] found on the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago. No subspecies are currently recognized.[4]

Description

Adults grow to a length of 152–183 cm (4.99–6.00 ft). The color pattern consists of a series of brilliant orange and black rings in juveniles, but this fades in about a year as the snakes mature. Adults are usually a shade of brown with black rings, or a uniform blackish brown. Usually, there is a light spot behind the eye.[3] Some specimens may have black rings that are irregular, incompletely formed or even absent. The scales are highly iridescent.
Distribution and habitat

Found on the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago, including Umboi, New Britain, Gasmata (off the southern coast), Duke of York and nearby Mioko, New Ireland and nearby Tatau (off the east coast), the New Hanover Islands and Nissan Island, the type locality given is "Nouvelle Irlande" (New Ireland).[2] The Bismarck ringed python inhabits rain forests in open and/or cultivated areas,[3] and is often found in piles of coconut husks.
Behavior

These snakes are nocturnal and fossorial.[3]
Feeding

Their diet consists primarily of small rodents, for which they actively forage. They have been reported to enter houses and agricultural structures in search of prey. Hatchlings feed on lizards and juvenile rodents.[3]
Reproduction

Oviparous, they lay up to a dozen eggs that are generally "brooded" by the female, although this is not always the case.[3]
References

Tallowin, O.; Allison, A. (2013). "Bothrochilus boa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T196558A2459522. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T196558A2459522.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
McDiarmid RW, Campbell JA, Touré T. 1999. Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, vol. 1. Herpetologists' League. 511 pp. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
"Bothrochilus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 9 September 2007.