Rosy Boa
Scientific Name: Lichanura Trivirgata
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The Rosy Boas scientific name is Lichanura trivirgata and belongs to Boa family. It has a small size and attains a maximum length of three feet. It has eyes that resemble those of a cat as they have elliptical pupils. The Rosy Boa has a short but built body with a blunt tail. Other unique features on the Rosy Boa include a small pear shaped head and a pattern of three strips. The Rosy Boa has a variety of colors that include brown, red-brown, grey and tan. Rosy Boas living in deserts exhibit these colors well compared to those living in marshy habitats.
Rosy Boas Are Beautiful Creatures
Facts About Rosy Boas
Geographic Location
Rosy Boas are widely distributed in California, Arizona northern parts of Mexico as well as southern states of United States. The Rosy Boa is most common in California. One is likely to find it in desserts such as Colorado and the Mojave Desert areas. Other common areas they could be found include the Sonoran Desert.
Habitat
The Rosy Boa is adapted to live in hot desert environments. It has a tough skin that bears friction from rocks. Rosy Boas have many predators thus spend most of their time hiding under the rocks and crevices. Rosy Boas prefer living in granite rocks in deserts. One may also find the Rosy Boa underneath sand in deserts.
Behavior
Since they live in hot environments, during winter, they go into a state of dormancy to avoid the cold associated with the winter season. They only maintain physiological processes such as breathing, circulation and basal metabolism. During spring, they emerge from their hideouts in the afternoons and evenings. In summer seasons, they experience acute dehydration due high temperatures, to counter this, the snake burrows under soil and rocks to vent off heat.
Reproduction
Rosy Boa has a long reproductive cycle because it hibernates during winter. Males and females mate for approximately one week to ensure female fertilization. After mating, males return to their hideouts. During the entire pregnancy period, females consume no or less food, thus remain inactive or docile. One unique feature associated with the Rosy Boa female is that it gives birth to young ones. Rosy Boas gives birth to an average of six to thirteen young ones. It displays an ovoviviparous mode of reproduction. The size of young ones born has an average length of six inches. Young ones develop fast before the subsequent winter season. They attain full maturity within four years of rapid development.
Captivity
Rosy Boas are not poisonous thus are easily captured. Rosy Boas are generally friendly and many locals use them as a pet. When in captivity, one should keep them in an environment similar to their natural habitat. Neonates are feisty shortly after birth therefore; one should separate them from their mother. Young ones administer snakes bites but one should not worry because they are not venomous. Since the Rosy Boa has a small size in coupled with a natural docile character, many people use it as a pet. Its variety of colors makes it an attractive choice compared to other boa varieties.
