The Tropidophiinae or Dwarf Boa are a family of snakes that found from Mexico and the West Indies south to southeastern Brazil. These are small to medium-sized fossorial snakes, some with beautiful and striking color patterns. Currently, 4 living genera containing 22 species and one extinct genus with one species are recognized
Dwarf Boa
Red Dwarf Boa
Dwarf Boa
Dwarf Boa
Dwarf Boa
Small little Dwarf Boa
This family is confined to the neotropics, mainly in Hispaniola, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands with the greatest diversity being in Cuba, where new species are being discovered frequently. These snakes are very small, averaging to about 30–60 cm in total length. Most species spend their day burrowed underground or under vegetation, surfacing only at night or when it rains. Some species are arboreal and are ofter seen hiding in bromeliads in trees. They have the ability to change color from light (when they are active at night) to dark. This color change is brought about by the movement of dark pigment granules. When threatened, they coil up into a tight ball. A more peculiar defensive behavior is their ability to voluntarily bleed from the eyes, mouth and nostrils.