User:Jenny.127/Lichanura orcutti

Behavior and ecology[edit]
Lichanura orcutti is primarily nocturnal, with peak activity occurring during dusk, the night, and dawn. During cooler weather this species may also be seen basking in the early morning or late afternoon. During inclement weather and during the hottest and coldest months of the year, L. orcutti remains inactive in burrows or under cover. They prefer to hide from predators the same way they hide from their prey. Often times, when they can't hide, they'll pretend their tail is their head.

This species is live bearing, and young are born between October and November. Females generally give birth to 3–14 young.

Once born, the babies are independent of their mother. Their contrasting color pattern is what distinguishes them from adults.

Diet[edit]
Lichanura orcutti is an opportunistic predator and will feed on any suitably sized vertebrates including rodents, birds, smaller reptiles, or amphibians. They hide and wait to spring on their prey. This species kills prey by constriction.

Description[edit]
Lichanura orcutti is a heavy bodied snake with smooth scales and a tapered blunt tail. The head is marginally wider than the neck. It has vertical pupils. The shape of their head also makes it easier to hide in the ground. Adults can range from 17 to 44 inches (43 to 112 cm) in length, though they rarely exceed 36 inches (91cm). Their weight range goes from 11 to 21 ounces. Hatchlings are 10 to 14 inches long. Males typically have well developed anal spurs. Males are also typically smaller than females.

This species has three stripes that run lengthwise down the dorsal and lateral aspects of the animal. These stripes may be tan, orange, brick red, or reddish-brown depending on locality; interspaces vary from blue grey to tan, yellow, or nearly white. Stripes vary from defined to ill-defined depending on the individual animal. The coloration of younger animals is typically lighter with more defined striping. Despite the name "rosy boa," most individuals do not have the rosy ventral coloration from which the species derives its popular common name.

In captivity[edit]
Rosy boas – including L. orcutti – are popular pet snakes due to their docile temperament, striking coloration, and hardiness in captivity. A well cared for animal can be expected to live around 30 years. Although rosy boas can bite, they most likely won't bite a human. They are nonvenomous, so it would only hurt. These snakes can only be purchased through breeders because they are protected under the Federal Special Concern Act and the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species(CITES). They should also be provided spaces to hide under.