ANIMAL: Trans-Pecos Ratsnake Bogertophis subocularis Type of Animal: Colubrid Habitat: Desert flats, brushy slopes, rocky outcrops, desert, bush, rock piles, desert fringes, dry basins, desert slopes w/ creosote bush, sotol, lechuguilla, agave, yucca, ocotillo, and/or acacia, mesquite valleys, montane oak-juniper woodland, rocky areas Location(s): SW Texas, S New Mexico, & NE Mexico in Trans-Pecos region & Chihuahuan Desert Appearance: Yellow, tan, or yellowish-tan w/ black or dark-brown H-shaped markings, light eyes w/ black pupils, reddish-pinkish tongue, juveniles paler than adults Food/Diet: Rodents, lizards, bats, birds, smaller snakes (including smaller members of own species) Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & herpetoculture Lifestyle: Solitary Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young-Snakelet Group-Solitary Weight: Male-8.8 oz Female-10.5 oz Gestation: 2.5-3.5 months Life Span: 15 years Body Length: Male-3.5-4.5 ft Female-5.5 ft Young-1.5 ft Tail Length: 1 ft Main predators are bobcats, raptors, coyotes, corvids, larger snakes, roadrunners, & foxes. Also called Davis Mountain Rat Snake. They breed in May & June. Females lay clutches of 2-11 eggs. They’re nocturnal (active at night). While common, they’re not often seen due to nocturnal habits. They’re seen more often in breeding season. Like all snakes, they lack eyelids. Sexually mature at 2-3 years. Young snakes usually hatch from mid-July-mid-September. Hibernates in cooler winter months. Tends to be secretive in the wild. Fun Fact(s): These snakes are often called “subocs.” These snakes can make great pets, due to docile temperament.
