Chaguaramas Reptiles - Black Cribo

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Genus: Clelia

(Carnivore )

The Black Cribo eats other snakes, it has about ten sturdy teeth situated at the rear of the oral cavity which it uses to grip the head of the attacked snake and push it into its esophagus. It twists its body around the prey, killing it by constriction. Ingestion of the entire cadaver follows. The length of the body of the ingested snake is squeezed together in order to fit into the Black Cribo’s gastrointestinal system. In the absence of other snakes, they are capable of feeding on small mammals.

The Black Cribo (mussurana) is immune to the poison of the snakes it feeds on, particularly pit vipers of the genus Bothrops (Mapepire Balsin), but it is not immune to the poison of the coral snake.

Genus: --

(Carnivore)

This snake is long, slightly flattened laterally and has thin a body with a large head.

The front teeth are exceedingly elongated, often being longer than one would expect for snakes of their size. These are used for penetrating layers of feathers to get a firm grip on birds, their primary prey. They characteristically have rather large eyes, although this is less distinct in the larger species.

Generally nocturnal and they have large numbers of very pronounced thermo receptive pits are located between the labial scales. They have an aggressive deportment and will strike readily

 Genus: Oxybelis

 (Carnivore) 

This is a really slender snake that reaches up to 6.2 ft in length. It may vary from gray to brown with a yellow underside in colour.

They possess  a very prominent snout at least twice the diameter of it's eyes

 It spend most of its’ life in trees and active during the daytime, this snake is quite regularly mistaken for a vine. When in danger, this snake occasionally releases offensive smelling discharge from its vent. It feeds mainly on lizards, but also eats frogs and birds. Rear-fanged snake, but it is not considered dangerous. Nevertheless, a bite can cause an itching sensation. 

Order: --

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 VENOMOUS / DANGEROUS

 Not seen as often as the small coral snake. This coral grows to a length of 52 inches and may be thicker than your finger. It brightly colour with Orange, Yellow and Black shiny bands. The venom of this snake attacks the nervous system, (just like it's smaller cousin). The mouth of the snake is also very small and just like the small coral snake it can bite only between the fingers and toes.  

 Genus: --

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 Genus:  Bothrops 

(Carnivore) 

VENOMOUS / DANGEROUS 

They generally grow to about 6 feet but have been known to reach over 8 feet in length. Females are larger than males. An Adult female averages approximately 60 young per litter. The young are roughly 12 inches in length, more vibrantly coloured than adults.

The head is triangular shaped and appears pointed due to hefty jaw muscles. The colours varies in many shades of brown, often with triangular markings on the back with their apexes at the spine (light stripes that may delineate triangles). The underneath of the snake’s head is pastel yellowish.

A terrestrial species, they can live an average of eight or more years  This snake should be avoided at all cost.

A highly venomous snake belonging to the pit viper species. This snake is very dangerous. It's venom is hemotoxic (attacks the blood stream).

Small mammals and birds are the chief part of the mappepire’s diet, but it additionally eats small reptiles. It has reserve fangs in case one is lost after striking prey. Generally active at night, but are not exclusively nocturnal and will hunt at whatever time required. They are excellent swimmers and even climb trees when necessary to reach their prey. Predominantly solitary, however they procreate year-round.

Mappepires attack with near-lightning speed. Unluckily, people are time and again bitten by the snakes, which can remain camouflaged for hours, practically unnoticeable. In Trinidad this danger is more likely in heavily forested areas and under developed communities.

 Genus:  Tupinambis 

(Omnivore ) 

 The Tegu is capable of growing to be approximately 2 to 3 feet on average, with a shiny body, powerful limbs and a broad tail. They have numerous black and gold stripes down their body. 

 They live in the tropical forests of northern, central South America and also in Trinidad. They feed on insects, invertebrates, small mammals, reptiles and birds, as well as fish and sometimes fruit. 

 Genus: - Epicrates 

(Carnivore) 

The Rainbow Boas are not only found in Trinidad and Tobago they are also distributed throughout most of Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

The name Rainbow Boa is applied both to the entire genus Epicrates, or to the species Epicrates cenchria. Some of the other species of Epicrates are also referred to simply as Rainbow Boas, at least locally, because the majority of the species and subspecies are curbed to specific regions, often islands, and it is uncommon to come across two species in the same locality.

E. cenchria is the species for the most part are often kept as pets, and it has numerous subspecies, easily discernible by their markings, the majority of which have well established common names. If the term "Rainbow Boa" is used because of the rainbow colours seen particularly when the sun shines on the skin of the snake.

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