Facts about Rosy Boa
The Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata) is a snake of the Boidae family. It is one of only two members of Boide family native to the United States. The other is the Rubber Boa (C. bottae). Rosy Boas are native to the American Southwest, and Baja and Sonora Mexico. These snakes forage mainly for small mammals but have occasionally been known to take other prey items such as birds, and lizards. Pack Rats, baby Rabbits, Deer mice, and Kangaroo Rats make up a large portion of their diet. These small attractive snakes attain a length of just over 3 feet and a large adult has a body width about the diameter of a golf ball. Rosy boas have highly variable colors. Like all snakes, they are dependant on external temperatures to promote such normal bodily functions as digestion and gestation. Rosy Boas are one of the slowest-moving species of snake in the world. The Common named was derived from the Rosy or Salmon coloration that is common on the belly of Rosy Boas originating from Coastal southern California and Baja Mexico. All boas do not have the ventral coloration. Their generally docile temperament, ease of care, and small size makes the Rosy Boa an ideal choice for a pet snake. They are frequently captive bred, and readily feed on commercially available mice. The surface activity of Rosy Boas can take place during any hour of the day, but during hot weather they are primarily nocturnal. Almost all Rosy Boas have at least some trace of three longitudinal stripes, one down the center of the back, and two on the lower sides. Colors of the stripes present on Rosy boas can be orange, maroon, rust, brown, or black. The Rosy Boa is found in the southwestern United States in the states of California and Arizona, and northwestern Mexico in the states of Baja California and Sonora. In California, the Rosy Boa ranges throughout the Colorado and Mojave deserts and also occupies the coastal areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego counties. Rosy boas spend most of their lives concealed beneath rocks and in crevices to escape the elements and natural predators. Granite outcroppings are the most common geologic association inhabited by the Rosy Boa. Their extreme docility combined with their attractive coloration has made Rosy Boas very popular with herpetoculturists. In areas with few rocks Rosy Boas will use rodent burrows for concealment. Rosy Boa's activity season follows local weather patterns; however, they are generally dormant during the winter, and active during the spring summer and fall. They are unable to pursue prey because of being slow and must either wait in ambush or stalk their meals. When a meal is within reach, usually a few inches, a Rosy Boa will strike with surprising speed and accuracy. Prey is secured with tiny rows of needle-sharp teeth, then suffocated through constriction. Rosy Boas are extremely docile when encountered by humans. The species is not prone to bite in defense and when human bites have occurred they have usually been the result of a feeding response with a captive animal. All Rosy Boa bites are harmless. |
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