Bogertophis

Bogertophis is a genus of New World rat snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. There are two accepted species.

Bogertophis
Juvenile Trans-Pecos rat snake
Bogertophis subocularis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Tribe: Lampropeltini
Genus: Bogertophis
Dowling &
R. Price, 1988[1]
Species

Bogertophis rosaliae
Bogertophis subocularis

Etymology

The genus Bogertophis is named in honor of American herpetologist Charles Mitchill Bogert.[2][3]

Species

The following two species are recognized as being valid.[4]

ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Bogertophis rosaliae (Mocquard, 1899)Baja California rat snakeMexico (Baja California) and southern California
Bogertophis subocularis (A. Brown, 1901)Trans-Pecos rat snakeMexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Nuevo León) and the United States (Texas and New Mexico)

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Bogertophis.

Description

Bogertophis are long, slender snakes, with large eyes that have round pupils. They can attain total lengths (including tail) of 1.68 m (5.5 ft).[5]

B. rosaliae is more variable in color, found in shades of tan, red, orange, or brown.

B. subocularis is almost universally tan in color with interconnected black blotches on the back and two black stripes down the neck. There is an isolated locality of B. subocularis where it is found with a light yellow coloration that is termed a "blonde" variant, and there is also an almost white coloration, that is sometimes referred to as the "silver" variant.

Trans-Pecos rat snake, Bogertophis subocularis, demonstrating the "silver" variant

Behavior and diet

Bogertophis are typically nocturnal snakes that feed on a wide variety of rodents, bats and sometimes lizards, especially when younger. They are found in semi-arid habitats; so they spend much of their time hiding from the heat of the day.

Reproduction

Bogertophis species are oviparous.

In captivity

Both Bogertophis species are commonly available in the exotic pet trade. Due to their typically docile nature and reliable feeding habits, they can make an excellent choice for a captive snake. They are also well represented in zoos.

References
  1. "Bogertophis ". Wikispecies.
  2. Beltz, Ellin (2006). Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Genus Bogertophis, p. 30).
  4. Genus Bogertophis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  5. Powell, Robert; Conant, Roger; Collins, Joseph T (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Bogertophis subocularis, p. 384 + Plate 35).

Further reading
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