Baja California rat snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baja California rat snake |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bogertophis
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| Species: |
rosaliae
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The Baja California rat snake (Bogertophis rosaliae) is a type of snake that is not venomous. It lives in Baja California, Mexico, and parts of California. You can also find it on some islands in the Sea of Cortés.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
This snake is quite large, growing to about 85 to 150 centimeters (33 to 59 inches) long. It has a slender body, a long head, and big eyes. Its scales are smooth to the touch.
The snake's back is usually a solid olive or reddish-brown color. It doesn't have any dark spots or patterns. Its belly and lower sides are often yellowish or greenish. The eyes of the Baja California rat snake have a yellow-green color.
Where Does It Live?
The Baja California rat snake lives from the very southern part of Imperial County, California all the way down into Baja California to Cabo San Lucas. It can be found from areas near the sea up to about 300 meters (almost 1,000 feet) high.
In the United States, this snake has only been seen a few times. One record comes from a snake found on a highway in Imperial County, California.
How Does It Live?
Scientists don't know much about the daily life of the Baja California rat snake. It seems to be active mostly at night or during twilight (dawn and dusk). However, it might also be active during the day if the weather is right.
- Reproduction: We don't know much about how these snakes reproduce. They lay eggs, but the exact number of eggs is not known.
- Diet: What they eat in the wild is also mostly a mystery. Most of what we know comes from snakes kept in captivity.
- Behavior: Like other rat snakes, they are probably good climbers. Adult snakes likely live for a long time. We don't know how far they travel or what animals might hunt them.
Where Does It Like to Live?
The Baja California rat snake mostly lives in dry desert areas. It prefers rocky places like arroyos (dry creek beds) and washes, especially near small springs. However, some snakes have also been seen on hillsides and dry flat areas away from water.
This snake might need certain types of shrubs or trees to hide in. It has been found near plants like:
- Native fan palms (Washingtonia spp.)
- Date Palms (Phoenix dactylifera)
- Mesquite
- Palo blanco (Lysiloma candidum)
- Palo verde
- Creosote bush
We don't know where these snakes lay their eggs.
Protecting the Snake
The California State Government considers the Baja California rat snake a "Special Concern" species. This means it's not seen very often, and many people, including collectors, want to find it.
Because it's so rare in California, the state believes it should stay protected. This protection will last until more is known about where it lives in California.
The California Department of Fish and Game suggests that people look for this snake in Imperial and San Diego counties. They should search in habitats with shrubs or trees that have thick crowns. If new groups of these snakes are found, their homes need to be protected from changes and from people collecting them. Also, there should be a way to keep track of these snakes to make sure they are doing well.
