Bogertophis subocularis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Trans-Pecos Rat Snake | ||||||||||||||||
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  At the Houston Zoo
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| Bogertophis subocularis Brown, 1901 |
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Coluber subocularis |
The Trans-Pecos rat snake (Bogertophis subocularis), is a small (0.8-1.2 m), non-venomous rat snake native to the Chihuahuan Desert, that extends northward into Texas.
[edit] Habitat
The Trans-Pecos rat snake's habitat consists of desert flats and brushy slopes, rocky outcrops, and road-cuts, where they nest and feed on small vertebrates. A nocturnal species, it is uncommon and rarely-seen in the wild, save on warm summer nights during the breeding season. Nicknamed "subocs" by enthusiasts, they are unaggressive when approached, even passive, and are easily raised in captivity.
[edit] Reproduction
Their breeding season runs through May and June, while egg-laying begins in July and ends by September. At nearly three months, their incubation period is lengthy for a snake, at the end of which a clutch of anywhere from three to 11 snakes of 28-33 cm hatch. As they are born during winter, the hatchlings may remain hidden underground for several months before venturing outside.
[edit] References
- Alan Tennant, A Field Guide to Texas Snakes, 2nd ed., (Houston: Gulf Publishing Company, 1998), pp. 200-1.
- Dusty Rhoads. The Complete Suboc - A Comprehensive Guide to the Natural History, Care, and Breeding of the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake (forthcoming title in March 2008 from ECO Publishing and Distribution).
- Species Bogertophis subocularis at The Reptile Database
- Simply Subocs
- Suboc.com
