Download (Alsophis Antiguae) Author(s) - South Dakota Academy of Science

Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science, Vol. 82 (2003)
313
CONSERVATION OF THE CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED SNAKE, THE ANTIGUAN
RACER (ALSOPHIS ANTIGUAE)
Brian E. Smith, Paul L. Colbert and Sarah B. Larson-Ness
Department of Biology
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD 57799
ABSTRACT
Since 1995 the Antiguan Racer Conservation Project has worked to conserve the critically endangered snake, the Antiguan racer, Alsophis antiguae.
The snake was nearly driven to extinction due to introduced predators, including rats and mongoose. Rats have been eradicated from several small offshore islands and surveys of the lizard prey items of the snake have been
made. One of these prey items, the Antiguan ground lizard (Ameiva griswoldi), is a rare Antiguan endemic. The snake is now known from slightly more
than 100 individuals confined to Great Bird Island, a 7.7 ha island near Antigua,
plus two newly reintroduced populations on two nearby islands. Recent surveys of the Antiguan ground lizard on Great Bird Island have shown that this
species has been seriously affected by snake predation. Green Island, a 43.25
ha island near Great Bird Island, was the recent recipient of five male and five
female snakes, the first of several planned reintroductions to the island. Although populations of the lizard prey appear to be reduced on Green Island
due to introduced rats, which were eradicated prior to the recent snake reintroduction, we believe that Green Island could eventually hold as many as 400
– 500 snakes. Green Island may be the most promising island for the eventual recovery of the Antiguan racer.