Forty-seven species of snake have been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago, making the snake population of this area the most diverse in the Caribbean. Forty-four of these snake species are found in Trinidad and twenty-one in Tobago. Many of these species are South American, most of which are present in Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and several smaller islands. The Bocas Islands, which lie between Trinidad and Venezuela, in the Bocas del Dragón (Dragon's Mouths), consist of Chacachacare, Monos, Huevos and Gaspar Grande. Several smaller islands lie off Trinidad, but snakes have been recorded on only one of them, Caledonia Island. Snakes have been recorded on one island off Tobago, Little Tobago. Four species are venomous: two coral snake species (Micrurus spp.[note 1]), the fer-de-lance (Bothrops atrox) and the South American bushmaster (Lachesis muta). The common coral (Micrurus fulvius) is found on at least two of the Bocas Islands: Gaspar Grande and Monos. No venomous snakes inhabit Tobago.
Anomalepididae
Anomalepididae is a family of nonvenomous snakes native to Central and South America. They are similar to Typhlopidae, except that some species possess a single tooth in the lower jaw. One possible species has been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago.
Leptotyphlopidae is a family of snakes found in North and South America, Africa, and Asia. All are fossorial and adapted to burrowing, feeding on ants and termites. One species has been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago.
Typhlopidae is a family of blind snakes found mostly in the tropical regions of Africa, Asia and the Americas. Two species have been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago.
Aniliidae is a monotypic family created for the monotypic genusAnilius, which means that there is only one species in the entire family. This species is A. scytale, found in South America.
Boidae is a family of non-venomous snakes found in America, Africa, Europe, Asia and some Pacific Islands, containing the boas. Four species have been recorded in Trinidad and Tobago.
Colubridae is a family of snakes comprising about two thirds of all snake species on earth. Colubrid species are found on every continent, except Antarctica.[10] Species from three subfamilies are found in Trinidad and Tobago.
Elapidae is a family of venomous snakes found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Two species are found in Trinidad and Tobago.
Viperidae is a family of venomous snakes found all over the world, except for Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Madagascar, Hawaii and the Arctic Circle. All have relatively long hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom. Two species are found in Trinidad and Tobago.
^The abbreviation "sp." indicates a single species and the abbreviation "spp." indicates multiple species.
^Helminthophis sp. is known from a single collection. It may represent an undescribed species since none of the three described species are known from adjacent portions of Venezuela
^Typhlops trinitatus is endemic to Trinidad and Tobago.
^Anilus scytale scytale is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Boa constrictor constrictor has been recorded from the islands of Monos and Gaspar Grande.
^Epicrates cenchria maurus has been recorded from the island of Chacachacare, but the report has not been confirmed with a specimen.
^Liophis melanotus nesos has been recorded from the island of Chacachacare and is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Pseudoboa neuwiedii has been recorded from the island of Chacachacare.
^Atractus trilineatus has been reported from the island of Huevos, but Boos (2001) considered this record to be doubtful.
^Atractus cf. univittatus is known from a single collection in Tobago. It has affinities with A. univittatus, but may be an undescribed species.
^Clelia clelia clelia has been recorded from the island of Chacachacare, but the report has not been confirmed with a specimen.
^Dipsas variegata trinitatis is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Erythrolamprus aesculapii is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Erythrolamprus bizona is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Erythrolamprus ocellatus is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Leptodeira annulata ashmeadi has been recorded from the islands of Gaspar Grande and Huevos.
^Sibon nebulata nebulata has been recorded from the island of Huevos.
^Chironius scurrulus is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Drymarchon corais corais has been recorded from the island of Monos.
^Leptophis stimsoni is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Mastigodryas boddaerti boddaerti has been recorded from the islands of Monos, Gaspar Grande, Chacachacare, Huevos, and Caledonia.
^Mastigodryas boddaerti dunni has been recorded from the island of Little Tobago and is only known in Trinidad and Tobago from a single collection.
^Oxybelis aeneus has been recorded from the islands of Chacachacare and Huevos.
^Tantilla melanocephala has been recorded from the island of Huevos.
^Micrurus circinalis has been recorded from the islands of Gaspar Grande (Boos 2001) and Monos (Charles & Smith 2009).
References
All information is based on Boos (2001) unless otherwise stated.
^Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G.; Zweifel, R.G. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 188–195. ISBN0-12-178560-2.