Rosy boa

Physical features

• 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.

Diet: Carnivore

• Wild – Amphibians, bats, birds, lizards, rodents and other snakes.

• Zoo – Mice

Reproduction

• 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.

Interpretive Information

• 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.”

• 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.

Updated November 2014