With lengths exceeding 5 m (16 ft) and a relatively heavy build, the Cuban boa is one of the largest snakes in North America.

The genus name Chilabothrus is from the Greek cheilos, meaning "lip", á "without" and bothros "pits".

[5] The specific name originates from the Latin word angirlus, meaning "angle", probably in reference to the angular shapes of the main elements of the dorsal pattern.

[7] C. angulifer is the largest snake in the Cuba and the West Indies, with specimens exceeding 5 m (16 ft) in length and 30 kg (66 lb) in weight.

[8] The largest individual measured 5.65 m (18.5 ft) long and estimated at more than 40 kg (88 lb) in mass.

[7] He also mentioned about one large individual kept in captivity by him had length of 4.57 m (15.0 ft) was collected at the Zapata Swamp, Matanzas Province.

C. angulifer is a terrestrial apex predator in Cuba along with the Cuban crocodile and carnivorous birds.

[8] Depending on age, size and health, prey can range from anurans, lizards, snakes, turtles, aquatic birds (Gruiformes), free-ranging raptors (Accipitriformes, Cathartiformes), forest birds (Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Passeriformes), caged birds (Columbiformes, Galliformes, Falconiformes, Passeriformes, Psittaciformes), free-ranging poultry (Anseriformes, Galliformes), bats, bovids, pigs, carnivores, rabbits, hutias and rats.

As a result of data from the literature and field studies, 351 prey items were recorded in 49 different taxa obtained from 218 snakes.

Although the reproductive potential is still poorly understood, long term studies are quantifying the missing or inconclusive data.