Rosy boas are 17 to 44 inch constricting snakes that come in a variety of colors including grey, tan, white and yellow backgrounds with black, brown, orange or reddish-brown stripes.
The common name of the species, rosy boa, comes from the pinkish coloration on the undersides of certain specimens, despite the fact that most members of the species lack this coloration.
Rosy boas are sexually dimorphic with females being larger than males.
They are mostly nocturnal during the summer months.
Range – North-western Mexico; parts of Arizona and California
Habitat – Deserts, rocky slopes, sandy plains and scrublands
Wild – Amphibians, bats, birds, lizards, rodents and other snakes.
Zoo – Mice, quail chicks
Wild – Unknown
Zoo – up to 31 years
Courtship and mating occurs from May through July. A male rosy boa will court a female by flicking his tongue along her body.
Females rosy boas give birth to live young.
Litters average from 3 to 8 young.
Young rosy boas are independent from birth.
Rosy boas have no major threats as a species. Certain local populations are threatened by over collection and road mortality.
Rosy boas are found in several national parks as well as other protected areas.
Rosy boa young are independent from the moment they are born.
While mostly terrestrial, rosy boas can climb quite well and have been observed several feet up in trees.
Rosy boas possess vestigial legs near the vent. These are more pronounced in the males and are often known as “spurs.” These spurs are found in nearly all species of boa and python.
Like all snakes, rosy boas cannot actually unhinge their jaws to eat large prey. Instead, they use a special set of jaw bones and ligaments to perform this task.
Dacres, K. 2009. "Charina trivirgata" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 09, 2014 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Charina_trivirgata/
Hammerson, G.A. (2019). Lichanura trivirgata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/91864513/18977981
Charina trivirgata, Arkive.com. http://www.arkive.org/rosy-boa/charina-trivirgata/ Downloaded on 09 November 2014.
Zoo Atlanta Animal Care Team
Updated July 2024