CAPTIVE HUSBANDRY & PROPAGATION OF CANDOIA:
CAPTIVE HUSBANDRY & PROPAGATION OF CANDOIA:
THE PACIFIC BOAS
BY JERRY CONWAY
DESCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION
The genus Candoia is truly a very different one indeed. These boas, in general, all look quite similar. They all have a narrow triangular shaped flat head with an upturned rostral. Their heads make them look venomous, and in some way prehistoric. Viper boas in particular resemble the venomous death adder. All Candoia have rounded sausage shaped bodies even though some are quite slender. Colors may vary, but most Candoia are often some shade or combination of tan, gray and black. Some Solomon Islands ground and tree boas are spectacularly colored with reds, oranges, yellows and even pinks. New Guinea tree boas are also nicely colored. All specimens have some kind of blotching or banding. Some Solomon Islands tree boas can be patternless. Solomon Islands ground boas all have a characteristic zig-zag stripe dorsally. All Candoia have thick keeled scales and strong prehensile tails. As with all boas, these snakes are mostly nocturnal. Adult sizes range from 22 inches to 6 feet, with most being 2-3 feet. Candoia are found only on islands in the South Pacific. They do not occur on any mainland areas. The range encompasses eastern Indonesia, which includes the islands of Halmahera, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and several of the Fiji Islands. Candoia occupy a variety of different habitats, including dry woodlands to rainforests. Many are found near human dwellings where rodents are abundant.
The following species names are what I believe to be valid. Some of these are common or generic names that have been used in herpetoculture for many years.
- Solomon Islands ground boas: Candoia Carinata Paulsoni
- Solomon Islands tree boas: Candoia Bibroni Australis
- Viper boas: Candoia Aspera
- New Guinea tree boas: Candoia Carinata Carinata
- Fiji boas: Candoia Bibroni Bibroni
- Halmahera boas: Candoia Sp
The genus Candoia is still undergoing taxonomic review. Santa Isabel ground boas (white Paulsoni) and Halmahera boas may deserve full species status.
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