Southern Eyelash Boa
CR

Southern Eyelash Boa

Trachyboa gularis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachyboa_gularis

Overview

Tropidophis gularis, commonly known as the Southern Eyelash Boa or Ecuadorian eyelash boa, is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Tropidophiidae. It was formerly treated as Trachyboa gularis. The species is endemic to Ecuador, and is only known from an area where suitable habitat has been almost completely destroyed. Recent confirmed records are also lacking, and the IUCN has concluded that Tropidophis gularis is a possibly extinct species.

The Southern Eyelash Boa faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited range in South American cloud forests and montane regions. Its extremely restricted distribution and specialized habitat requirements make populations highly vulnerable to environmental changes and human encroachment. The species' slow reproductive rate and small population size further compound its risk of extinction.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits humid montane cloud forests and tropical moist forests at elevations between 400-1,500 meters in the Andes and adjacent mountain ranges. The species is typically found in dense vegetation near streams and in areas with high humidity and consistent moisture levels.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Southern Eyelash Boa classified as Critically Endangered?
Southern Eyelash Boa is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Southern Eyelash Boa faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited range in South American cloud forests and montane regions. Its extremely restricted distribution and specialized habitat requirements make populations highly vulnerable to environmental changes and human encroachment. The species' slow reproductive rate and small population size further compound its risk of extinction.
Where does Southern Eyelash Boa live?
Southern Eyelash Boa occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Southern Eyelash Boa?
The main threats to Southern Eyelash Boa are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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