Turks islands boa, Southern bahamas boa
Chilabothrus chrysogaster, commonly known as the Turks Islands boa or the Southern Bahamas boa, is a species of snake found in the Southern Bahamas (Great Inagua, Sheep Cay) and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Local names include rainbow boa (not to be confused with Epicrates cenchria, the "real" rainbow boa), Bahamas cat boa, rainbow snake, and fowl snake. Like all boids, it is not a venomous species.
Turks Island boas are nocturnal, and actively forage for lizards, birds, and rodents. They prefer either tropical dry forest habitat or scrub vegetation with plenty of large, flat rocks. Adults reach a maximum size of over 70 inches (180 cm) or more, but more often they are around 32 inches (81 cm) long.
There are three color morphs of this species: spotted, striped, and no-pattern. The spotted version seems to be the most common, followed by striped and finally the very uncommon no-pattern snakes, which are mostly solid gray with a few dark markings. Juveniles are orange or red and long and thin. Rarely, some adults will retain the juvenile coloration.
In the Bahamas the Turks Island boa is found on Great Inagua and Sheep Cay. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, it is found on 10 islands, nine of which are on the Caicos Bank. Boas are occasionally still found on Providenciales, though this population has likely been decimated in the last 30 years and is in danger of extirpation. Though originally reported from Grand Turk, the Turks Island boa now appears to be only found on islands on the Caicos Bank and a few of the Turks Cays.
There are three primary threats to this species:
