What is it?

[marant]

I caught a snake today... a boy was chasing in the gutter, after getting it out of his yard, with a broom handle, and as I drove by I thought from the color that it might be a rattler, so I turned around, got out and after a closer look, realised it was a type of constrictor, so I picked it up and put it in a bag and took it home. But I have no idea what kind it is... it is about 3 feet long, sandy tan color and has an interesting 3 circles on its head between its eyes. I've never seen that before, I had a common boa when I was a kid, and I want to get this guy (or girl) to a safe place, but I would like to know if anyone knows what kind of boa it is and if you have any recommendations of where to place it in the Phoenix area...thanks:)

[Linds]

It's very difficult to tell what this species is from your description... is it possible to get a pic? As for placing the little guy, once you get an ID on him, you can try advertising him in the classifieds ;)

[Herpkingdom]

Well, considering you are in Arizona....

Here is a listing of all native snakes found in Arizona.
http://www.herpedia.com/E/NA/herps_by_state/arizona.html

I haven't gotten all the links to work yet, so here is a link to the North American Snakes page.....
http://www.herpedia.com/E/NA/snakes/NA_snakes.html

You will be albe to see photos of most of them on that page.


If you cannot find one matching what it is you caught, shoot me a email and I'll go through my records and see if I have one that matches what you have.

jim@herpedia.com

[marant]

Thanks for your suggestions... had someone from the AZ Herpetological Society pick him up today... turns out not a boa at all, just a rather large gopher snake, my wife thinks that's what it was identified as. Had me fooled, but its been along time since I held a snake, just glad I kept it from being killed. Thanks again!

[FireFoz]

Its always very dangerous to pick up snakes you are not sure about what it is...very dangerous!

Imagine you would pick up a Micruroides euryxanthus thinking its a Lampropeltis Triangulum...