L.t. gracia range: Southeast California and Southwest Arizona

L.t. triviragata range: western mainland Mexico, southwest Arizona and Southern Baja

L.t. roseofusca range:Southwest California coast

L.t. myriolepis range: Baja, California

Size: 24-42 inches, weigh at least 125g

Age: 15 years

Active: nocturnal, primarily terrestrial but can climb shrubs; diurnal in spring

Habitat: desert, arid scrub, brushland, rocky chaparral, ravines - where moisture is available.

Captive Care:10-30 gal aquarium with escape-proof screen lid, need good ventilation, if using sweater boxes have numerous holes in sides for ventilaton, undertank heating; substrate: newsprint, course sand, dried pine, aspen or Care Fresh; low climbing branch; shelter; water should be available occasionally (two days every one to two weeks) or if continuous access is desired, a smaller container will keep down soaking and humidity buildup (e.g., in sweater boxes glue small deli cup to bottom as anchor and insert second deli cup about half full of water inside first, clean and refill weekly)

Temperature: temperature gradient: nighttime 68F (20C) to daytime 82F (28C), bask 85-90F (mandatory for gravid females). 90F absolute maximum
brumate at 55-65F for 6-10 weeks

Foods: in nature: small mammals (pinky cottontails) and birds
in captivity: mice -> pinky, fuzzy, small adults, or chicks adults, one to three small mice weekly (avoid obesity)

Temperament: calm; seldom bites but will coil into ball with head in center if frightened

Breeding: Live bearing, mate early to late spring (depending on subspecies)
Gestation approximately 4 months
mandatory 85F undersnake heat while gravid
clutch size: 2-5 babies (deseret)
2-10 babies (costal)
5 average

Notes: Males distinguishable from females based on presence of spurs.
May not tolerate moisture (humid conditions) as well as other temperate species

References:
Behler, John L. and King, F. Wayne (1979) The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719pp.
Cobourn, John (1995) Boas & Pythons and other friendly snakes. T.F.H. publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ. 191pp.
Mehrtens, John M. (1987) Living Snakes of the World. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York.
Merker, Gerold and Merker, Cindy (1995) The Alure of Rosy Boas. Reptiles 2(4): 48-63.
Ross, M.D., Richard and Marzec, Gerald (1990) The Reproductive Husbandry of Pythons and Boas. Institute for Herpetological Research, PO Box 2227, Stanford, CA 94305.
Walls, Jerry G. (1994) Boas, Rosy and Ground. T.F.H. publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ. 64pp.