Bogertophis
| Bogertophis | |
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| Juvenile Trans-Pecos rat snake Bogertophis subocularis
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Tribe: | Lampropeltini |
| Genus: | Bogertophis Dowling & R. Price, 1988[1] |
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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.
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]
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
Bogertophis rosaliae (Mocquard , 1899) |
Baja California rat snake | Mexico (Baja California) and southern California | |
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Bogertophis subocularis (A. Brown , 1901) |
Trans-Pecos rat snake | Mexico (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
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.
Behavior and diet
Bogertophis are typically
Reproduction
Bogertophis species are
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
- ^ "Bogertophis ". Wikispecies.
- ^ Beltz, Ellin (2006). Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained.[1]
- ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Genus Bogertophis, p. 30).
- ^ Genus Bogertophis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Bogertophis subocularis, p. 384 + Plate 35).
Further reading
- Dowling, Herndon G.; Price, Robert M. (1988). "A proposed new genus for Elaphe subocularis and Elaphe rosaliae ". The Snake 20: 52–63. (Bogertophis, new genus).
External links
| Authority control databases: National |
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