General Distribution
The rosy boa is widely but sparsely distributed in desert and chaparral habitats throughout
southern California, south of Los Angeles, from the coast to the Mojave and Colorado deserts.
It is absent in extreme eastern California and in the vicinity of the Salton Sea. In coastal
areas it inhabits rocky chaparral-covered hillsides and canyons, while in the desert it is found
on scrub flats with good cover and in the mountains. It is a secretive snake and little is known
about seasonality, but it is most frequently encountered in late spring and early summer
(Klauber 1931, 1933, Stebbins 1954). Habitat Requirements
Rosy boas prefer areas with moderate to dense vegetation and rocky cover. They
have been found under rocks, in boulder piles and along rock outcrops and vertical canyon
walls. Reproduction
Young are live-born with 6-10 in a brood. A brood was born in captivity on
November 16 (Stebbins 1954). Daily/Seasonal Activity
Early in the season individuals may be crepuscular but most are
nocturnal. On rare occasions they may be abroad during the day (Klauber 1933, Stebbins
1954). Greatest activity occurs from late spring to early or mid-summer.
The rosy boa probably does not migrate, but long foraging movements may occur. Diet and Foraging
The diet consists of small rodents and birds (Stebbins 1954). This species will
eat lizards in captivity and may do so in the wild. Territoriality/Home Range
No data is available. Predator-Prey Relations
This snake is heavy-bodied and probably a desirable prey item for owls,
roadrunners, other avian predators, coyotes, kit foxes, and other mammalian predators. Literature Cited
Klauber, L. M. 1931. A new subspecies of the California boa, with notes on the genus
Lichanura. Tran. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 6:305-318.
Klauber, L. M. 1933. Notes on Lichanura. Copeia 1933:214-215.
Stebbins, R. C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill,
New York. 536pp.
Yingling, R. P. 1982. Lichanura, L. trivirgata. Cat. Am. Amphibians and Reptiles 294.
Information gathered from California DFG - California Interagency Wildlife Task Group
