Dumeril's Boa

The specific name, dumerili, is in honor of French herpetologist André Marie Constant Duméril.

A. dumerili is found on Madagascar. The type locality given in the original description is "Amérique mérid. ?", which is later given as "?" by Jan (1863). Along the western coast and southwestern regions of Madagascar, it is found in a semi-arid habitat that gets fairly low amounts of precipitation. Durmeril Ground Boa's live in semi-arid forest along the western to southwestern parts of Madagascar. Their habitats consist of leaf litter, loose dirt, and rocky terrain for camouflage. When needed, these snakes will use burrows made by other animals as a shelter.

|left]]The diet of A. dumerili consists of small animals, such as birds, lizards, and small mammals, including juvenile lemurs. It is also known to prey on other snakes. These snakes are opportunistic feeders that may hunt during the day or at night. They can also be found on the ground floor or in trees when hunting (Raxworthy 2003; Vences and Glaw 2003; Gardner et al. 2017). They have been found to have toads, insects, and indigestible plants, as well as detritus in their stomach. These were all either eaten in the process of hunting another animal or were in the stomach of the animal that they consumed (Pendlebury 1974). They will use their muscular body type to constrict their prey prior to consumption. Although they can reach up to 6-8 feet in length, they typically are more docile creatures and will continue to eat smaller animals and amphibians.

In A. dumerili sexual maturity is reached within 3 to 5 years of age. Males have anal spurs, which are used in courtship. The mating season is March through May, and the young are born some 6 to 8 months later. Ovoviviparous, females give birth to a litters of 6-28. Neonates are 12-18 inches (30–46 cm) long.

The species A. dumerili is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List for the following criteria: A1cd (v2.3, 1994). The species was last assessed in 2011. It is threatened by deforestation and human persecution. In some areas it is feared and often killed on sight. Although some native lore would relate stories of the souls of the tribes ancestors being in the snake skins, because patterns of faces on the sides of the snakes are interpreted, making them religiously sacred and therefore not dangerous to some cultures.

Once exported from Madagascar in great numbers, trade in A. dumerili has since been heavily restricted. The species is, however, quite prolific in captivity, and captive bred individuals are easy to find in the exotic pet trade. Though its size makes it more suited to someone experienced with large constrictors, it has a typically docile nature, and readily feeds on rats. The main concern is that it is prone to stress, which can sometimes cause it to stop eating or can contribute to other health issues.