Bogertophis rosaliae

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Caenophidia
Superfamilia: Colubroidea

Familia: Colubridae
Subfamilia: Colubrinae
Genus: Bogertophis
Species: Bogertophis rosaliae
Name

Bogertophis rosaliae (Mocquard, 1899)

Type locality: Mexico: Baja California, Santa Rosalia.
Synonyms

Coluber rosaliae Mocquard, 1899
Bogertophis rosaliae — Dowling & Price, 1988
Elaphe rosaliae — Stebbins, 1985: 244
Bogertophis rosaliae — Liner, 1994
Elaphe rosaliae — Schulz, 1996: 307
Bogertophis rosaliae — Crother, 2000: 57

References

Mocquard, 1899. Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Natur.Paris, 4th Series, Vol. 1p. 321.
Dowling, H.G. and R. M. Price, 1988. A proposed new genus for Elaphe subocularis and Elaphe rosaliae. The Snake, 20: 52–63.
Crother, B. I., 2000. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Herpetogical Circular, No. 29: 1–82.
Bogertophis rosaliae at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 20 August 2008.

Vernacular names
English: Baja California Rat Snake

The Baja California rat snake (Bogertophis rosaliae) is a nonvenomous colubrid snake native to Baja California, Mexico; California; and some islands in the Sea of Cortés.

Description

It is a large (total length, 85–150 cm = 59 inches), slender colubrid snake with a long head, large eyes, and smooth dorsal scales. Each dorsal scale contains two apical pits (Price 1990a, 1990b). The dorsum is uniform olive or reddish brown without dark markings on a cream-colored background (Ottley and Jacobsen 1983). Yellowish or greenish coloration extends from the lower sides of the body to the venter (Price 1990b). The iris is yellow-green (Ottley and Jacobsen 1983).
Taxonomic remarks

Dowling and Price (1988) have placed this snake in its own genus (Bogertophis) based on immunological data, but complications with the data set and the mode of analysis indicate that it is best to regard this species as a member of the rat snake genus, Elaphe, until further data become available (L. Grismer and John Wright, pers. comm.). No attempts have been made to characterize genetic variation across the geographic range of E. rosaliae. An understanding of that variation is needed to determine whether genetically differentiated populations exist within E. rosaliae. The difficulty in obtaining the requisite material for such a study makes it likely that novel techniques, such as extracting DNA from preserved specimens, will be needed to address this problem.
Distribution

The Baja California rat snake ranges from extreme southern Imperial County southward into Baja California to Cabo San Lucas (Price 1990a). Over at least the northern half of its range, it is known from widely disjunctive locations (Ottley and Jacobsen 1983, Price 1990b). Its known elevations range from near sea level to ca. 300 m. In the United States, E. rosaliae is known from only one road-killed specimen CSDSNH 644161 taken 26 May 1984 on Interstate Highway 8, 3.84 km (2 mi) east of Mountain Spring (Imperial County), California. Although Stebbins (1985) and others believe this locality to be genuine (L. Grismer and G. Pregill, pers. comm.), some have questioned the validity of this record (S. Barry, J. Copp, and C. Fagan, pers. comm.).
Life history

The life history of E. rosaliae is virtually unknown (Price 1990b). The species seems to be nocturnal or crepuscular and may be surface active during daylight hours under suitable conditions (Ottley and Jacobsen 1983). Nothing is known about reproduction or growth except that clutches with an unspecified number of eggs have been laid in captivity (Price 1990b). The few data on diet and behavior are based on captive specimens and are difficult to interpret in the absence of data on this snake under field conditions. If similar to other rat snakes, it climbs easily (Wright and Wright 1957) and adults are probably long-lived (see Bowler 1977). No data on movement, colonization abilities, or the potential predators of this taxon exist.
Habitat

Elaphe rosaliae is largely confined to mesic and dry desert habitats (rocky - arroyos and washes) in the immediate vicinity of small springs (Ottley and Jacobsen 1983, Stebbins 1985) but individuals have also been observed on hillsides and dry mesas away from water sources (L. Grismer, pers. comm.). The habitat components critical to this snake have not been identified precisely, but it may require some kind of shrub or tree with a moderately dense crown in which to take refuge because it has been taken in native fan palms (Washingtonia spp.), date palms (Phoenix dactylifera), mesquite, palo blanco (Lysiloma candidum), palo verde, and creosote bush associations in the past (Price 1990b). The locations of oviposition sites are unknown.
Status and habitat recommendations

The California State Government classes its status as "Special Concern". It notes that the snake is an infrequently observed species avidly sought after by amateur, scientific, and professional collectors alike. Because of the uncertain status of the single record from California, it believes that it should remain protected until further information regarding its distribution within the state becomes available.

The California Department of Fish and Game Habitat Conservation Planning Branch recommends that intensive surveys of habitats with shrubs or trees having a moderately significant crown in Imperial and San Diego counties are needed to determine whether this snake is really part of the herpetofauna of California. If populations are discovered, the Planning Branch states that the local habitat needs to be protected from modification and potential collecting, and some kind of monitoring for this taxon should be initiated.
Footnotes

The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Sources

Text in this article has been taken directly from the public domain source Amphibian and Reptile Species of Special Concern in California, Baja California Rat Snake. California Department of Fish and Game, 1994