On oceanic islands, where carnivorous mammals are frequently absent, the niches of large predators are often filled by raptors and reptiles. Cuban Boas (Chilabothrus angulifer), along with Cuban Crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer) and large birds of prey, were the top predators in the Cenozoic terrestrial ecosystems of Cuba until the arrival of Homo sapiens in the region about 6,000 years ago. This ecological scenario of large boas in the genus Chilabothrus functioning as top predators in terrestrial ecosystems is repeated on each of the largest islands of the Greater Antilles. The evolution of very large size in the Cuban Boa is best explained as phyletic giantism (Cope’s Rule), although other paleo-ecological selective factors might have maintained or even accentuated the evolutionary trend toward large body size (insular giantism). However, this seems not to be the case for all species of Chilabothrus, since the evolution of a small body size is repeated in several lineages, a phenomenon that is best explained by autamorphic nanism (Island Rule). Unfortunately, the negative effects of humans on natural populations of the Cuban Boa apparently have induced a dramatic reduction in maximum body size even during the relatively short period since the first reliable measurements were recorded in the 19th century. Such a reduction in body size is consistent with that reported for other West Indian reptiles and is probably indicative of rapid evolution in response to a highly modified environment with new selective pressures.

Sexual maturation in free-ranging Chilabothrus angulifer (Serpentes: Boidae). TheCuban Boa (C. angulifer) is the only boid snake in Cuba. It is the largest member of the history is poorly known, several studies describe aspects of its reproductive biology in in nature, and show that the Cuban Boa reaches adulthood at a much smaller size than previously reported for captive snakes. Based on the limited information on the growth rate of C. angulifer in nature, males must reach breeding size after 3 years and females after 5 years.Keywords: Cuba, Cuban Boa, endemic snake, minimum breeding size, reproductive ResumenMaduración sexual en Chilabothrus angulifer (Serpentes: Boidae) en la naturaleza. El majá de Santa María (C. angulifer especie icónica de la herpetofauna cubana. A pesar de que su historia natural se conoce muy poco, varios estudios describen aspectos de su biología reproductiva en cautiverio. Aquí documentamos las 164Phyllomedusa -15(2), December 2016 se ha reportado para especímenes de cautiverio. Basados en la escasa información sobre la tasa de crecimiento de C. angulifer Palabras Clave: Caribe Insular. ResumoMaturidade sexual de Chilabothrus angulifer (Serpentes: Boidae) em estado selvagem. A jiboiacubana, Chilabothrus angulifer, icônica da herpetofauna cubana. Apesar de sua história natural ser pouco-conhecida, diversos estudos descrevem aspectos de sua biologia reprodutiva em cativeiro. Documentamos aqui o tamanho e a serpente atinge a idade adulta com um tamanho muito menor do que previamente relatado para C. angulifer na natureza, os machos atingem o tamanho reprodutivo após 3 anos, e as fêmeas, após 5 anos. Palavras-chave:tamanho reprodutivo mínimo.

New localities and distribution models inform the conservation status of the endangered lizard Anolis guamuhaya (Squamata: Dactyloidae) from central Cuba. Anolis guamuhaya is known from seven localities restricted to the Guamuhaya Massif in central Cuba and is always associated with mountane ecosystems above 300 m a.s.l. Previous evaluations of the conservation status of the species based on the estimated number of mature individuals have categorized the anole as Endangered. Eight new records of A. guamuhaya are provided here. These double the number of known localities, and two represent the first records of the species in lowland areas, apart from the Guamuhaya Massif. The new records extend the elevational range of the species from 15 m to above 1000 m. We used ecological niche modeling based on all of the locality records, along with what we considered the most appropriate IUCN criteria according to the available information (Criterion B) to reevaluate the conservation status of the species. These new records of A. guamuhaya increase its area of occupancy up to a total of 60 km2 , and its extent of occurrence up to 648 km2 . Despite this increase in geographic range, the species meets the IUCN criteria in the category of Endangered. We used ecological niche modeling to predict possible trends for the species under differing scenarios of global climate change, all of which portend a drastic reduction in area climatically suitable for A. guamuhaya.

No abstract

The Cuban endemic Escambray Twig Anole, Anolis garridoi (Squamata: Dactyloidae), was known only from a limited geographic range of less than 10 km2 in the vicinity of the type locality at Topes de Collantes, Guamuhaya Massif, central Cuba. The ecology and behavior of this species is poorly known and the number of photographs in life very limited. Herein we report A. garridoi from seven new localities, extending its geographic range by more than 60 km and its elevational distribution to 30–1,140 m. We provide baseline data on habitat use, thermal niche, and behavior of the species at Pico San Juan Ecological Reserve. We also describe the juveniles of this species for the first time and provide additional morphometric data for adults. Finally, we present a collection of quality photographs of live individuals of this species illustrating the different color patterns and behaviors.