Lichanura trivirgata Cope, 1861

Taxonomy and Size Classification

Lichanura trivirgata, commonly known as the desert rosy boa, is classified as a small snake, and is one of the smaller species in the Boidae family.

Adult Length

Adults normally reach a total length including the tail of 43–112 cm (17–44 in), and exact length varies by subspecies.

Adult Body Width

A large adult has a body width roughly equal to the diameter of a golf ball.

Coloration Variability

This species has highly variable coloration that is typically specific to its native locality.

Ventral Coloration

Some individuals have rosy or salmon coloration on their underside; most desert rosy boa specimens lack this ventral coloration, and instead have a series of dark to orange spots on a light-colored background.

Longitudinal Stripe Pattern

Almost all desert rosy boa specimens have at least some trace of three longitudinal stripes: one runs down the center of the back, and two run along the lower sides.

Stripe Appearance Variation

The appearance of these stripes varies widely: they can be extremely straight with high contrast against the interstriped areas (interspaces), or extremely broken with almost no contrast against the interspaces.

Stripe Color Range

Stripe colors may be orange, maroon, rust, brown, or black.

Interspace Color Range

Interspace colors may be shades of light to dark gray, yellow, or tan.

Global Native Range

The desert rosy boa is native to the Aridoamerica ecoregion, found in the southwestern United States (the states of California and Arizona) and northwestern Mexico (the states of Baja California and Sonora).

California Distribution

In California, the species lives in extreme southern San Diego County, within the Tijuana River and Otay watersheds.

Arizona Distribution

In Arizona, it occupies the western areas of the Sonoran Desert.

Sonora Distribution

In Sonora, its range extends from the United States border south throughout the Sonoran Desert, reaching at least as far south as Ortiz.

Baja California Distribution

In Baja California, the desert rosy boa is nearly ubiquitous across the entire peninsula, and is absent only from areas of extremely dry or rockless desert.

Reproduction Mode

The desert rosy boa gives birth to live young.

Brood and Newborn Size

Broods typically contain about six young, and newborns can reach up to 30 cm (12 in) in length.