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Northern Rosy Boa

Lichanura orcutti

Reptile · family Boidae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
3 states[3]

The Northern Rosy Boa is a reptile in the boa family[4]. It is native to Arizona, California and Nevada and is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[3][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks this snake G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide and N4 (Apparently Secure) in the United States[2][5]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30 show it is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe estimates 10,000 to 100,000 adults in total[7]. Its notes say the trend is uncertain, but numbers have probably slowly declined[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[5] N4 (Apparently Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[7] 10,000 to 100,000 individuals

Where Northern Rosy Boa lives

NatureServe lists the Northern Rosy Boa as native in 3 states: Arizona, California and Nevada[3]. State ranks differ. Arizona is S3, California is SNR and Nevada is SU[9]. Other names for it include Desert Rosy Boa and Rosy Boa[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: native, state rank SUNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S3AZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (3 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaS3Vulnerable
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
NevadaSUUnrankable

Habitat

NatureServe records shrubland and chaparral, desert, bare rock and scree, and riparian (streamside) habitat for this snake[11]. It lives in many settings, such as arid scrub, sandy plains, rocky slopes and brushy foothills[12]. It is often found where some moisture exists, but it does not depend on permanent water[12]. It stays mostly on the ground and sometimes climbs into shrubs[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Diet

The Northern Rosy Boa is a carnivore[13]. Its diet is mainly small mammals and birds[14]. NatureServe describes this species as live-bearing, meaning young are born alive[15]. The facts on this page do not include its size or lifespan.

Trait Value
Food habits[13] Carnivore
Migration[16] non-migrant

When to look for it

This snake is a non-migrant, though populations can differ[16]. It is inactive in cold weather and in extreme heat[17]. It is usually most active at night[17]. Most GBIF records in the United States fall in March, April and May[18]. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].

January: 27 recordsJanFebruary: 101 recordsFebMarch: 239 recordsMarApril: 354 recordsAprMay: 393 recordsMayJune: 239 recordsJunJuly: 65 recordsJulAugust: 40 recordsAugSeptember: 30 recordsSepOctober: 67 recordsOctNovember: 31 recordsNovDecember: 18 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January27
February101
March239
April354
May393
June239
July65
August40
September30
October67
November31
December18

Questions people ask

Is the Northern Rosy Boa endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe ranks it G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the Northern Rosy Boa live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Arizona, California and Nevada[3]. It uses desert, scrub, rocky slopes and chaparral habitats[12].
What does the Northern Rosy Boa eat?
NatureServe says its diet is mainly small mammals and birds[14].
When is the Northern Rosy Boa active?
It is usually most active at night and is inactive in cold or extreme heat[17]. GBIF records peak in March, April and May[18].

Facts and sources

  1. Northern Rosy Boa is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Northern Rosy Boa: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Northern Rosy Boa as native in 3 US states and territories: Arizona, California, Nevada. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Northern Rosy Boa (Lichanura orcutti) is a reptile in the family Boidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on trend for Northern Rosy Boa. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe state ranks for Northern Rosy Boa (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Northern Rosy Boa: Desert Rosy Boa, Northern Three-Lined Boa, Rosy Boa. NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Northern Rosy Boa: Shrubland/chaparral, Desert, Bare rock/talus/scree, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Northern Rosy Boa. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Northern Rosy Boa. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Northern Rosy Boa. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Northern Rosy Boa: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on phenology for Northern Rosy Boa. NatureServe Explorer
  18. GBIF observation records of Northern Rosy Boa in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.