Fun Rosy Boa Facts For Kids

The rosy boa (Lichanura trivirgata/Charina trivirgata) is a snake from the Boidae family. It is one of the two boa species that are native to the Southwestern United States, especially in California and Arizona. They are also found in Mexico. In Southwestern USA, the rosy boa can be found in coastal areas like Coastal California, Orange, and San Diego. They are also found in Arizona. In Mexico, they can be found in the desert regions of Baja California and Sonora. The snakes look different based on the locale they live in. There are mainly three types of rosy boas that can be found. The desert rosy boa, the coastal rosy boa, and the Mexican rosy boa. Desert rosy boas can be found in the Mojave desert. Coastal rosy boas can be found in the coastal regions of California and adjacent places. The Mexican variety is found in Mexico.

The Rosy boas are not big in size. Their length may be 20-40 in (50-100 cm) when they are fully grown. Most of the species have three darker stripes running down their head to their tail. These stripes can be brown, black, or rusty. Brown ones are the most common. The spaces between the stripes can be tan, yellow, or gray. Some of these snakes can also be unicolored or occasionally albino. These snakes are docile and make for great pets. Here are some more Snake rosy boa snake facts, and fun facts about the Mexican rosy boa that you will love.

If you want to read more interesting articles like this, then check out hognose snake and corn snake.

What type of animal is a rosy boa?

The rosy boa (Lichanura trivirgata) is a species of small snakes native to the United States.

What class of animal does a rosy boa belong to?

The rosy boa (Lichanura trivirgata) belongs to the Reptilia class of the Animalia kingdom.

How many rosy boas are there in the world?

Even though the actual number of rosy boas in existence is not known, they are not a rare species. Being small, non-venomous, docile snakes, they are a popular choice amongst people who want to keep snakes as pets. The rosy boa is one of the Least Concern species.

Where does a rosy boas live?

Rosy Boas are native to the Southwestern United States and some adjacent places in Mexico. These reptiles are usually found in Arizona and Southern California, but also in Baja California and Sonora, Mexico. In the Southwestern United States, the rosy boa is found in coastal regions of Southern California- like Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego. In Arizona, they can be found in the Mojave Desert. The Mexican counterparts live in Sonora and cover almost the entire length of the Sonoran desert. While in Baja California, Rosy Boas are found almost everywhere except for extremely dry and rocky areas.

What is a rosy boa's habitat?  

The rosy boa seems to mostly live in desert and semi-desert regions. Some also live in dry shrublands. The natural habitat of the rosy boa is usually dry but they prefer to live close to water sources like canyon rivers. You will also rarely find a rosy boa living without a rock cover. They love living under rock covers because it saves them from being hunted by their natural predators. In captivity, they need the heat of their natural habitat. So it is important to heat up their enclosure to the right temperature.

Who do  rosy boas live with?

Even though they are not social animals in the wild, rosy boas can live together in captivity, but it is only possible when they have sufficient room to grow and move around in. You cannot cram multiple rosy boas in a small enclosure. With sufficient space, a few rosy boas may live together. It is best to give them their separate places though.

How long does a  rosy boa live?

In the wild, rosy boas can live for about 15-20 years. In captivity, however, their lifespan generally increases due to lack of natural enemies. Rosy boas can live up to 30 years or more in captivity if they are properly taken care of.

How do they reproduce?

The Rosy boas reproduce through mating. The mating season for the rosy boa is from May to July. After mating, the female gestation period lasts from 100-140 days. Unlike most other snakes, this species is viviparous. This means, instead of laying eggs, they give birth to young snakes. The Rosy Boa's litter consists of three to eight live young on average. The newborns are usually 7-12 in (18-31 cm) long. They look similar to adult snakes, but their stripes are darker than the adults. Their color is also more vibrant and dark.

What is their conservation status?

The rosy boas are listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List. They have no special status in CITES. In California, The Bureau of Land Management has them listed as 'sensitive'. But since they are pretty popular as pets, these snakes are not an endangered species.

What do rosy boas look like?

Rosy boas are one of the two species of Boidae primarily found in the United States. The other one being the rubber Boa. They are a smaller species of snakes mostly found in the Southwestern United States and adjacent regions of Mexico. They are usually 20-40 in (50-100 cm) long. The diameter of their bodies is about the size of a golf ball. Based on the locale, the rosy boas look different. Their distinguishable feature is that Rosy Boas have some sort of longitudinal stripes running down their bodies. One in the center, and the other two down their sides. Some specimens have a salmon-colored underbelly that earned them their names, but not all species have this. These stripes are usually orange, reddish-brown, black, or maroon in color. The color of the spaces between the stripes can be tan, yellow, or gray. Occasionally, some snakes can lack stripes and can be unicolored. This species is also known to have albino specimens which are very popular as pets.

The scales of rosy boas are smooth. They also have an elongated head and a broad neck. They have vertically elliptical pupils. Male rosy boas are usually smaller than the female rosy boas. The rubber boa can sometimes be confused with heavily pigmented rosy boas, but they lack the stripes that rosy boas have.  

How cute are they?

The rosy boa is a pretty cute species of snakes. Even though you do not hear this adjective used for snakes every day, their docile personality and small size make them adorable. Especially if you are someone who likes snakes in general, you are going to love the rosy boa. Their color patterns also make them very beautiful.

How do they communicate?

Like most snakes, rosy boas use their sensitive tongue to perceive their surroundings. They use their sense of smell and eyesight to track prey in their natural habitat.

How big is a rosy boa?

As mentioned before, the rosy boa is on the smaller side of the scale of snakes. The length of the adults is about 20-40 in (50-100 cm) and the diameter of their bodies is about the size of a golf ball. They are not very big, and thus, make for perfect pets if people want to keep snakes. The young neonates are born about 7-12 in (18-31 cm) in length.

How fast can a rosy boa move?

The rosy boa is one of the slowest snakes in the world. They move at a speed of 1 mph (1.6 kph). They do not move fast on the ground. Which makes it easier for them to fall prey to larger predators. This is why the rosy boa prefers rock shelters to hide from predators in the desert.

How much does a rosy boa weigh?

The average weight of an adult rosy boa is 0.9-1 lb (400-455 g). They are light and easy to pick up. If you want to have a pet snake, they are an ideal option for their small size and even temperament.  

What are their male and female names of the species?

There is no gender-specific name for males or females of snakes. Naturally, both male and female snakes of the species are called rosy boa.

What would you call a baby rosy boa?

Even though they are just called young rosy boa, baby rosy boa can also be called snakelets. They can also be called Rosy Boa neonate.

What do they eat?

The diet of the rosy boa usually consists of small mammals. They also prey on lizards and small birds occasionally. The small mammals that rosy boas usually prey on are rabbits, mice, and rats. Rodents are their most common prey. The rosy boa neonates prey on smaller mice about once a week. If you have a pet rosy boa, you can feed them one adult mice every 7-10 days. But it is best to ask a vet for a correct diet chart for your pet rosy boa. Since they are one of the slowest snakes on the planet, they cannot chase their prey like other faster reptiles. Instead, they either stalk or ambush their prey. Their camouflaged body helps with the ambush. When they are close to prey, they attack with amazing speed. They coil their bodies around the prey to incapacitate it and eat it headfirst. Their recurved teeth help capture and secure the prey.

Are they poisonous?

Rosy boa are not venomous. They are also extremely docile and do not attack humans. If they feel threatened, instead of biting, they release a foul-smelling musk. This snake is known for behaving very well in captivity. Even if they do bite humans, it is due to accidents during feeding. Otherwise, this completely harmless little snake does not pose a threat to humans at all.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes. The rosy boa is a snake that makes for an excellent pet. This snake is very easy to keep. Rosy boa are known for their docile attitude. They behave extremely well as pets. They can be friendly. They also need a small enclosure to live in. The enclosure can vary in size but since they are very slow, it does not need to be very big. They need to be fed normal rats or mice every 7-10 days and that's pretty much all the care they need. If you need a docile snake friend to hang out with, they are the best option for you. They also come in different colors like brown, maroon, and black. Rosy boa care is also very easy and a little attention and love are all you need to make them comfortable. Their enclosure needs to be escape-proof because they are very good escape artists.

Did you know...

Rosy boas are one of the slowest snakes on the planet.

Rosy boas give birth to live young instead of laying eggs like most snakes.

Do rosy boas have teeth?

Yes. The rosy boa has tiny, sharp, recurved teeth. These rows of small but sharp teeth help them to secure prey when they attack. These teeth help them incapacitate their prey before the snake swallows it.

Getting your own rosy boa

If you are looking to get a pet snake for yourself or your child, the rosy boa is an excellent option. They are very docile creatures that are well-behaved. They need minimal care and have to be fed every 7-10 days. They can live in a smallish enclosure since they are a small breed. Rosy boa are also very commonly available. You can find them at most pet stores that sell reptiles. They can cost upwards of $25 for a single neonate. This means they are also very cheap, but if you are looking for a unicolored or albino rosy boa, the price will obviously increase since they are rarer.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles including rattlesnake, or black racer snake.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our letter S snake coloring pages.