Pseudoboa haasi Boettger, 1905

De Alencar, Arília Aiarsa Laura R. V. & Martins, Marcio, 2013, Natural History Of Pseudoboine Snakes, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 53 (19), pp. 261-283 : 272

Pseudoboa haasi Boettger, 1905

Distribution: Pseudoboa haasi is found in southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina ( Gallardo, 1992; Lema, 1994; Morato et al., 1995; Giraudo, 1999, 2001; Morato, 2005; Kunz, 2007).

Habitat and time of activity: It is a large species of Pseudoboa (maximum SVL = 1293 mm, female; this study) that inhabits both open and forested areas ( Morato, 2005; R. Bérnils & R.P. Rocha, unpublished data; R. Bérnils & G. Montingelli, unpublished data; R. Bérnils & E.M. Wistuba, unpublished data; G. V. Bianconi & C.E. Conte, unpublished data; S. Morato, unpublished data); it may be occasionally found in disturbed areas ( R. Bérnils, unpublished data). The information available indicates that P. haasi is a terrestrial species (N = 7; Morato, 2005; Kunz, 2007; R. Bérnils & G. Montingelli, unpublished data; R. Bérnils & E.M. Wistuba, unpublished data; G. V. Bianconi & C.E. Conte, unpublished data; S. Morato, unpublished data), although Morato (2005) reports one individual inside the soil. Pseudoboa haasi is a diurnal species (N = 4; Morato, 2005; R. Bérnils & G. Montingelli, unpublished data; R. Bérnils & E.M. Wistuba, unpublished data; G. V. Bianconi & C.E. Conte, unpublished data).

Feeding: Pseudoboa haasi feeds mainly on small mammals (N = 9), and also eat snakes (N = 3, two Atractus cf. taeniatus , one colubrid), lizards (N = 2, one Placosoma sp. , one gymnophthalmid) and occacionally snake eggs (N = 1) ( Esteves, 2005; Morato, 2005).

Reproduction: Clutch size varies from three to 10 eggs (N = 11, mean = 5.36; this study). The smallest mature female was 913 mm SVL (this study) and the smallest mature male was 767 mm SVL (this study) .