Tropidophis cacuangoae

Tropidophis cacuangoae is a dwarf boa species in the genus Tropidophis, described in 2022.^[1]

Tropidophis cacuangoae
A-C. ♂ holotype, D-F. ♀ paratype
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Tropidophiidae
Genus:	Tropidophis
Species:	T. cacuangoae
Binomial name
Tropidophis cacuangoae Ortega-Andrade, Bentley, Koch, Yánez-Muñoz and Entiauspe-Neto, 2022

Description

T. cacuangoae usually grows to a length of 20 centimeters. These snakes have a skin coloring similar to those of the boa constrictor.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

The snakes are endemic to South America, more precisely in Ecuador.^[3]

Discovery

The species was discovered in 2022 in Ecuadorian Amazon by multi-organization researchers that included Mauricio Ortega Andrade, Alexander Bentley, Claudia Koch, Mario Yánez-Muñoz and Omar Entiauspe Neto.^[4] Two specimens were found in the Colonso Chalupas national reserve and in the private Sumak kawsay park, the discoverers reported.^[5] The specific epithet honors early 20th century indigenous rights activist Dolores Cacuango.^[1]