Bolyeriidae is a small family of poorly-known snakes endemic to Mauritius and nearby islets, although one of the two species has become extinct and the other is extirpated from almost all of these islands. They are colloquially called "boas" but in fact they are not closely related to "true boas" (family Boidae). Some have proposed that "splitjaw snakes" is a better name because of the unusual morphology of their upper jaws, which have a hinge partway along their length, an adaptation that may aid them in grasping their hard-bodied lizard prey.Bolyeriids lay eggs, reach 1 to 1.5 meters in length, and are primarily nocturnal. They change color from day to night and also throughout their lives. Captive breeding and reintroduction efforts to an island from which pests have been eradicated have undoubtedly helped the sole remaining species,Casarea dussumieri, which has recovered from a minimum global population size of less than 250 adult individuals in 1996 to over 1,000 today.
A blog about snake natural history, ecology, and evolution
The Bolyeriidae are a family[2] of snakes native to Mauritius and a few islands around it, especially Round Island. They also used to be found on the island of Mauritius, but were extirpated there due to human influence and foraging pigs in particular.[3] These snakes used to be placed in the Boidae, but are now classed as a separate family. Two monotypic genera are recognized, but only a single species is extant.[2] Bolyeriidae appear to be most closely related to the Asian genus Xenophidion.[4]
Found in Mauritius.[1]
T) Type genus.[1]
Both of these monotypic genera once inhabited Mauritius and/or a number of islands around it. However, Bolyeria hasn't been reported since 1975 and is believed to be extinct, while Casarea is known to survive only on Round Island.[1]
The Bolyeriidae are a family of snakes native to Mauritius and a few islands around it, especially Round Island. They also used to be found on the island of Mauritius, but were extirpated there due to human influence and foraging pigs in particular. These snakes used to be placed in the Boidae, but are now classed as a separate family. Two monotypic genera are recognized, but only a single species is extant. Bolyeriidae appear to be most closely related to the Asian genus Xenophidion.
