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Calabar python
	Calabar python at Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Kentucky
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Boidae
Subfamily:	Calabarinae
Genus:	Calabaria; Gray, 1858
Species:	C. reinhardtii
Binomial name
	Calabaria reinhardtii; (Schlegel, 1851)
Synonyms
	Eryx reinhardtii ; — Schlegel, 1851; Calabaria fusca ; — Gray, 1858; Rhoptrura reinhardtii ; — W. Peters, 1861; Roptrura petiti ; — Sauvage, 1884; Calabaria reinhardti ; — Boulenger, 1893; Calabaria reinhardtii ; — Stimson, 1969; [Charina] reinhardtii ; — Kluge, 1993;

Common names: Calabar ground boa, burrowing boa,^[3] Calabar boa, more.

The Calabar python (Calabaria reinhardtii) is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Boidae. The species is endemic to West and Central Africa.^[4] It is the only species in its genus.^[5]

Etymology

The specific name or epithet, reinhardtii, is dedicated to Danish herpetologist Johannes Theodor Reinhardt (1816–1882).^[6]

Taxonomy

Although Schlegel (1848) first assigned this taxon to the genus Eryx, most herpetologists have since regarded it as a python, which is still reflected in many of its common names. Kluge (1993) referred it to Charina (Erycinae) based on a phylogenetic analysis. Charina was used to group together C. bottae and C. trivirgata with C. reinhardtii to emphasize evidence for an historical connection between the New and Old Worlds, as well as for taxonomic efficiency.^[7] All recent analyses, however, place Calabaria reinhardtii at the base of a large clade within Boidae, which consists of the Boinae, the Erycinae, and an American clade made up of Charina (Lichanura included) and the Ungaliophiinae.^[8]^[9]

This species was long regarded as a member of the family Pythonidae, a fact still reflected in many of its common names. It was moved to Charina by Kluge (1993) based on a phylogenetic analysis; however, analyses based on DNA show that Calabaria is not closely related to Charina, and instead it appears to represent an ancient branch of the boid snakes with no close living relatives.^[10]

No subspecies are currently recognized.^[4]

Description

Calabaria reinhardtii grows to no more than 1 m (39 in) in total length (including tail), and the body is fairly uniform in its thickness from head to tail, with a pronounced cylindrical profile.

No palatal teeth are present and, unlike other boids, the compact skull includes a prefrontal bone. No thermoreceptive labial pits are present.^[11] Adapted to burrowing, the body is cylindrical with a blunt head and equally blunt tail.^[3] The head is covered with enlarged shields.^[7] The shape of the tail closely resembles that of the head which may be a defensive adaptation, meant to confuse an attacker. The body is muscular and strong. The eyes are relatively small and usually a dark reddish-brown color. The pupil is round.

The color pattern consists of a dark brown or black ground color speckled with red, yellow and/or grayish spots.^[3] The tail may be ringed or have a partial ring of bright white scales. This ring of scales is assumed to exist to confuse attackers and draw attention away from its head.

The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 29 to 32 rows at midbody. The ventrals are 221–239. The anal plate is entire. The subcaudals are 20–28, also entire.^[12]

Geographic range

Calabaria reinhardtii is found in the equatorial rain forest regions of West and Central Africa, from Liberia and Sierra Leone to Cameroon (including Bioko Island), the Central African Republic, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the DRC, it is found almost as far east as Lake Kivu. According to Stimson (1969), the type locality is the "Gold Coast".^[2] It also occurs in Gabon and the Cabinda enclave of Angola.^[4]

Behavior

Calabaria reinhardtii is fossorial but, unlike other burrowing boas such as Eryx, it tunnels in loose rainforest soil and leaf litter instead of sand. When threatened, the tail is used as a decoy, being elevated and set in motion, while the head is pressed to the ground and covered with a section of the body. If this fails, the snake coils itself into a tight ball with the head in the center, similar to the royal python (Python regius).^[3]

It is a very docile snake. When threatened, it has a tendency to coil itself into a tight ball with its head safely tucked in its own coils. Also, it may thump its tail against the ground in a defensive posture as well, but will rarely bite in aggression. The tail of Calabaria often has a conspicuous white ring, which may serve to attract attention of predators away from the head. When first disturbed, it will often remain very still while slowly moving the tail in an effort to increase the effect of this deception.

In captivity, this species will thrive under the right conditions. Requirements include a thick layer of loose organic material for burrowing and a cage temperature of 25–29 °C (77–84 °F).^[3]

Although C. reinhardtii is occasionally available through the exotic animal trade, captive reproduction of this species has only been accomplished by a few individual keepers. Most specimens of this species are caught in their natural habitat and then exported for sale.

It is a docile snake and can be handled easily. In captivity a Calabar python will readily accept small mice and rats for food, as this fulfills its instinct to raid rodent nests. As this species is prone to kill entire nests of young rodents, it is particularly useful in reducing rodent populations.

Feeding

Calabaria reinhardtii preys on small rodents and shrews, often invading their burrows in search of them.^[3]^[11] It may wait for the adults to leave the nest, after which it will enter and eat whole litters at a time. Constriction is usually employed to kill its prey, but it may also use its body to press the young rodents against the walls of their nest. If there is enough room in a burrow, multiple prey may be constricted at a time.

Reproduction

Calabaria reinhardtii is oviparous, with sexually mature females laying eggs.^[3] The eggs are relatively large, weighing as much as 50 g (1.8 oz) each. Usually, only one or two eggs are laid, rarely three. Nevertheless, the eggs may represent up to half of the female's body weight. The young hatch after six weeks of incubation, and begin to feed two or three days after hatching, usually after they first shed their skin.

Common names

Common names for C. reinhardtii include the African burrowing python, burrowing boa, Calabar boa, Calabar ground boa,^[3] Calabar python, Calabar ground python, calabaria, two-headed boa, West African burrowing boa, and West African ground boa.

References

^ Luiselli L, Penner J, Rödel M, Gonwouo NL, Kusamba C, LeBreton M (2021). "Boa nebulosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T13264749A13264760. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
^ ^a ^b McDiarmid, R.W. [in French]; Campbell, J.A.; Touré, T.A. (1999). Snake Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference Vol. 1. Washington, DC: Herpetologists' League. ISBN 1-893777-00-6 (series). ISBN 1-893777-01-4 (volume).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Mehrtens, J.M. (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
^ ^a ^b ^c Calabaria reinhardtii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 8 January 2021.
^ Calabaria at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 8 January 2021.
^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). "Calabaria reinhardtii". The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 219. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.
^ ^a ^b Kluge, A.G. (1993). "Calabaria and the phylogeny of erycine snakes" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 107 (4): 293–351. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1993.tb00290.x. hdl:2027.42/73563. Retrieved 20 July 2008 – via University of Michigan Library.
^ Vidal N, Hedges SB (February 2009). "The molecular evolutionary tree of lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians" (PDF). Comptes Rendus Biologies. 332 (2–3): 129–139. doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2008.07.010. PMID 19281946. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-11-14.
^ Vidal N, Delmas AS, Hedges SB (2007). "The Higher-Level Relationships of Alethinophidian Snakes Inferred From Seven Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genes". Biology of the Boas and Pythons. Eagle Mountain Publishing. ISBN 9780972015431.
^ Pyron RA, Burbrink FT, Wiens JJ (2013). "A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 13 (1): 93. Bibcode:2013BMCEE..13...93P. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-93. PMC 3682911. PMID 23627680.
^ ^a ^b Parker, H.W.; Grandison, A.G.C. (1977). Snakes — A Natural History (2nd ed.). London and Ithaca: British Museum (Natural History) and Cornell University Press. LCCN 76-54625. ISBN 0-8014-1095-9 (cloth), ISBN 0-8014-9164-9 (paper).
^ Boulenger, G.A. (1893). "Calabaria reinhardti". Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Boidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) (Taylor and Francis, printers). p. 92.