5.2.6. Giant Swallowtail ButterflyPterourus homerus
The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as endangered and further is listed on Appendix I of the Conventional on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This endemic species, which is the largest butterfly in the New World, historically ranged in at least seven parishes across Jamaica but is presently restricted to two isolated populations - Cockpit Country and portions of the Blue and John Crow Mountains in eastern Jamaica. Research on the population in the Blue and John Crow Mountains revealed that this species suffers extraordinarily high mortality due to egg parasitism when there are high levels of forest degradation in its breeding areas. The persistence of this eastern population is of major concern and Cockpit Country may represent the only viable population of the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly. Adults have been observed throughout Cockpit Country, most commonly in areas of high relative humidity, which is required both for the viability of eggs as well as for proper development of wings during the chrysalis stage of the life cycle and emergence of adults (Table 13 below).

Based on encounter rates of adults during the spring and summer wet seasons, experts considered the population size of the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly to be "GOOD." Because data are lacking on reproductive parameters, and particularly on parasitism rates, experts were conservative in their assessment of population condition, giving a ranking of "FAIR." Additionally, populations of this species continue to be vulnerable to collection, despite their inclusion on CITES Appendix I, which bans trade of listed species (Table 14). Black-market prices have been quoted as US$1500 - 2000 for clean specimens. The landscape context was ranked "POOR" by experts because only two isolated populations exist for this species.

5.2.7. Yellow Boa Epicrates subflavus
The Yellow (or Jamaican) Boa Epicrates subflavus is endemic to Jamaica and is the largest of the island's 9 native snake species. Adults rarely exceed a maximum snout-vent length of 200 cm and weight of 2.5 kg. Yellow Boas occur across Jamaica where native vegetation persists, ranging from dry coastal shrubland through lower montane wet limestone forest. As one of the largest native wildlife species on Jamaica, boas play an important role in mediating predator-prey dynamics; their extirpation from Cockpit Country would have dramatic effects on the functional ecology of the system. Cockpit Country is considered by herpetologists to be the single most important area for this species, with boas widely distributed throughout the range. Based on encounter rates reported by researchers and local residents, the population size was ranked "VERY GOOD" by experts.

Antipathy and persecution of all reptiles on Jamaica is intense. Boa encounters reported by local residents almost always resulted in death-by-machete to the snake, often because of the faulty belief that Yellow Boas are poisonous. The Yellow Boa belongs to the family Boidae and kills by constriction; indeed, none of the serpents on Jamaica are venomous. Female boas are vulnerable during the period just prior to giving birth, when they frequently lie exposed in open glades (cockpit bottoms) to raise their body temperatures. Data are not available as to whether prolonged human persecution has affected sex ratios within the population or whether there is a reduction in the proportion of large-bodied size classes (i.e., older individuals) (Tables 15 & 16). However, because of the frequency of encounter rates of carcasses in the forest and the direct reports by local residents, experts considered the Yellow Boa population to be somewhat degraded and ranked the condition as "GOOD." Similar to all wildlife species, the fragmentation of the landscape prevents movement of individuals between Cockpit Country and neighbouring forest blocks, with a resultant landscape context ranking of "FAIR"