Bolyeriidae: A Family of Snakes

Habitat and Behavior

The snakes in the family Bolyeriidae are found on the island of Mauritius. They are fossorial, meaning that they spend most of their time underground. Boa constrictors often occupy the burrows of medium-sized mammals where they can hide from potential predators.

Splitjaw Snakes

One of the most distinctive features of the Bolyeriidae is their split jaw. This allows them to swallow prey that is much larger than their own heads. The Round Island boa is known to eat rats, birds, and even small mammals.

Conservation Status

The Bolyeriidae are a threatened family of snakes. The Round Island boa is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. The main threats to these snakes are habitat loss and introduced predators.