Bibliotheca Herpetologica 20(6)

Ineich, I., R. Powell, K. Bonny, M. Holden, and C. Bochaton. 2026. What an old postcard can show: unique image of an extinct species of Boa most likely present on Martinique until the early 20^th century. Bibliotheca Herpetologica 20(6):61–69.

Five currently recognized extant species of Boa Constrictors (Boa sigma of the Pacific Coast, the isthmian species B. imperator, the South American species B. constrictor, and the insular Caribbean species B. orophias and B. nebulosa) occupy a wide range of habitats over 64 degrees of latitude. Although two of the five extant species are endemic to the Lesser Antilles no consensus exists regarding the total number of species that have occurred in the region.

While searching online for illustrations for a conference on snake charmers, one of us (MH) found a postcard from the very early 20^th century illustrating a man holding a Boa Constrictor in Martinique. We herein discuss the significance of that postcard for the occurrence and extinction date of Boa sp. on Martinique, which was regarded as absent since at least the 19^th century. Although we cannot determine the origin of the snake illustrated on the postcard, if it had been alive, one would think that it could have been of foreign origin. However, since it was dead, it likely came from Martinique, probably from the vicinity of Fort-de-France (it is unlikely that the snake came from a neighboring island and was brought back dead to Martinique for the photograph).

The three islands with known endemic boas are not far from Martinique; Marie-Galante is located 195 km north, Dominica 52 km north, and Saint Lucia 33 km south of Martinique. Since the occurrence of an endemic species on Martinique cannot be ruled out, the snake illustrated on the postcard could be the only available illustration of a species otherwise known only from unidentifiable subfossil remains.

If in fact this postcard illustrates an endemic Martinican species, it would extend into the early 20^th century the occurrence of boas on Martinique. Unfortunately, details of the illustrated snake are lacking, rendering it impossible to determine with certainty whether it was a Martinican species or a population (or individual) that arrived naturally or with human mediation from a neighboring island. Nevertheless, although no rigorous scientific evaluation on the taxonomic identification of the snake figured in the postcard could be conducted, we consider it very likely to be an unnamed endemic Martinican species in the Boa constrictor complex that did not become extinct until the first quarter of 20^th century.