Rosy boa

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iRosy Boa

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Boidae
Genus:	Lichanura
Species:	L. trivirgata

Binomial name

Lichanura trivirgata
Cope, 1861

The Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata) is one of only two members of the Boidae family native to the United States. The other is the Rubber Boa, (C. bottae).

1 Geographic range
2 Behavior
3 Taxonomy
4 Subspecies
5 In captivity
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Geographic range

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.

[edit] Behavior

Rosy boas spend most of their lives concealed beneath rocks and in crevices. In fact they are so often associated with rocks that some have taken to calling them rock boas. Rosy Boas can be active at any hour of the day but during hotter weather they are primarily nocturnal. These snakes forage mainly for small mammals but have occasionally been known to take other prey items such as birds, and lizards.

[edit] Taxonomy

The epithet trivirgata refers to the distinct three stripes that are characteristic of the species. The Rosy Boa is considered to be the only species within the genus Lichanura, but one researcher has placed it in the genus Charina with the Rubber Boa. Newer phylogenetic research supports the original arrangement but herpetologists are still not unified on Rosy Boa taxonomy. The subspecific designations are just as uncertain with many sources not accepting "arizonae" or "saslowi"

Rosy Boa

[edit] Subspecies

Arizona Rosy Boa, Lichanura trivirgata arizonae (Spiteri, 1991)
Desert Rosy Boa, Lichanura trivirgata gracia (Klauber, 1931)
Coastal Rosy Boa, Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca (Cope, 1868)
Baja Rosy Boa, Lichanura trivirgata saslowi (Spiteri, 1987)
Mexican Rosy Boa, Lichanura trivirgata trivirgata (Cope, 1861)

[edit] In captivity

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. Many color variations are available, including albinos. The popularity of the species has waned in recent years, with other species, such as corn snakes and ball pythons, dominating the majority of the market.