Bogertophis
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| Bogertophis | ||||||||||||||
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 Trans-Pecos Rat Snake
Bogertophis subocularis |
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Bogertophis is a genus of New World rat snakes found in the southwestern United States and into northern Mexico. There are two accepted species. The genus is named in honor of the American herpetologist, Charles Mitchill Bogert.[1]
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[edit] Species
- Baja California Rat Snake, Bogertophis rosaliae (Mocquard, 1899)
- Trans-Pecos Rat Snake, Bogertophis subocularis (Brown, 1901)
[edit] Description
Bogertophis are long, slender snakes, with large eyes that have round pupils. They can attain lengths of 1.4m. B. rosaliae is more variable in color, found in shades of tan, red, orange or brown. B. subocularis is almost universally tan in color with interconnected black blotches on the back and two black stripes down the neck. There is an isolated locality of B. subocularis where they are found with a light yellow coloration that are called termed a 'blonde' variant, and there is also an almost white coloration, that is sometimes referred to as the 'silver' variant.
[edit] Behavior & diet
Bogertophis are typically nocturnal snakes that feed on a wide variety of rodents, bats and sometimes lizards, especially when younger. They are found in semi-arid habitats, so spend much of their time hiding from the heat of the day. Bogertophis species are oviparous.
[edit] In captivity
Both Bogertophis species are commonly available in the exotic pet trade. Due to their typically docile nature and reliable feeding habits, they can make an excellent choice for a captive snake. They are also well represented in zoos.
