Lichanura orcutti Stejneger, 1889

General Body Morphology

Lichanura orcutti is a heavy-bodied snake with smooth scales and a tapered, blunt tail. Its head is only marginally wider than its neck, and it has vertical pupils.

Adult Size

Adult individuals range in total length from 17 to 44 inches (43 to 112 cm), though they rarely grow longer than 36 inches (91 cm).

Hatchling Size

Newly hatched young are 10 to 14 inches long.

Male Secondary Sexual Traits

Males of this species typically have well-developed anal spurs.

Dorsal Pattern Structure

Lichanura orcutti has three lengthwise stripes that run along its dorsal and lateral surfaces.

Stripe and Interspace Coloration

The stripes can be tan, orange, brick red, or reddish-brown, with color varying by location; the interspaces between the stripes range in color from blue-grey to tan, yellow, or nearly white.

Stripe Definition Variation

Stripes also range from sharply defined to very faint between individual snakes.

Age-Related Color Differences

Younger individuals usually have lighter overall coloration and more clearly defined striping than adults.

Ventral Coloration Note

Despite the popular common name "rosy boa", most individuals do not have the rosy ventral coloration that gave the species this common name.

Southern Distribution Range

This species is found north of the US–Mexico border, within San Diego County, California, and along the coastal Peninsular Ranges.

Eastern and Northern Range Extent

Its range extends northward into the Mojave Desert, and eastward into the Sonoran Desert of California and Arizona.

Additional Range States

It also occurs in southern Nevada.

General Habitat Types

Lichanura orcutti inhabits arid scrublands, semi-arid shrublands, rocky shrublands, rocky deserts, canyons, and other rocky areas.

Riparian Habitat Association

It may be more common in riparian areas such as oases and permanent or intermittent streams, but it does not require permanent water to survive.

Habitat Protection Status

The IUCN Red List notes that the species' preference for rocky habitats, which are unsuitable for development or agriculture, may protect Lichanura orcutti from habitat loss.

Primary Activity Period

Lichanura orcutti is primarily nocturnal, with peak activity at dusk, during the night, and at dawn.

Cool Weather Activity

During cooler weather, it may also be seen basking in early morning or late afternoon.

Inactivity Periods

During bad weather, and in the hottest and coldest months of the year, Lichanura orcutti stays inactive inside burrows or underneath cover.

Reproductive Mode and Birth Timing

This species is live-bearing, and young are born between October and November.

Litter Size

Females generally give birth to 3 to 14 young at a time.