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Home > Coniferous Forest Animals > Rubber Boa

Rubber Boa

The rubber boa snake could not have been given a more appropriate name as its loose and wrinkly skin does give the feeling that it is made of rubber. One of the earliest of the boa species, even older than the much larger boa constrictor, this small reptile is found widely across North America.

Rubber Boa

Rubber Boa

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Suborder Serpentes
Family Boidae
Subfamily Erycinae
Genus Charina
Scientific Name Charina bottae

Quick Information

Also Known as Coastal rubber boa, northern rubber boa, two-headed snake
Size 15-33 inches (38-84 cm)
Weight 1.23-2.47 oz (35-70 g)
Color Dark brown to tan back; ventral side yellow, olive-green to orange; young are born pinkish but darken as they age
Distribution/Range Continuously from the San Jacinto and San Bernardino mountains east of Los Angeles, California to British Columbia, Canada, eastward through Idaho, Nevada, Montana and Wyoming; some have also been reported from Alberta and Colorado
Habitat From desert shrubs to open coniferous forests
Lifespan 7.5 years on average; some have lived for 30+ years
Diet Juvenile mice, shrews and voles; reptile eggs, small birds and small bats; rare cases have been reported where they’ve been seen eating other snakes
Adaptations The tail of this snake is nearly identical in appearance to its head; this confuses predators and prey alike
Mating Season Reproduction occurs during spring
Gestation Period 5 months
Breeding System Ovoviviparous
Litter Size 1-8
Breeding Frequency Once in 4 years
Predators Raccoons, cougars, coyotes, ravens, birds of prey, cats, etc.
Hibernation During the winter months right up to spring
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern
Northern Rubber Boa

Northern Rubber Boa

Rubber Boa Habitat

Rubber Boa Habitat

Behavior

One of the most docile of snakes, the rubber boa has never been known to strike at or bite a human being. If it feels threatened, it releases a potent odor aimed to drive the trouble away. It is nocturnal, and possibly crepuscular, also being adept at swimming, burrowing and climbing. It is a very secretive and shy reptile species.

Life-cycle

Rubber boa babies are born with a length of 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm). They reach sexual maturity at about 2 years of age.

Rubber Boa Pictures

Rubber Boa Pictures

Rubber Boa Snake

Rubber Boa Snake

Interesting Facts

  • The tails of a rubber boa are often scarred due to attacks from parent rodents while the snake is busy eating the young from their nest.
  • The rubber boa is rather popular as a pet due to its disposition and is constantly put up for sale across the continent.
  • There is considerable debate as to whether the southern rubber boa (Charina umbratica) should be considered a subspecies of the rubber boa.
Rubber Boas

Rubber Boas

Baby Rubber Boa

Baby Rubber Boa

References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_boa
  2. http://www.rubberboas.com/Content/about.html
  3. http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/reptile/serp/chbo/chbofram.htm
  4. http://www.reptilefact.com/rubber-boa.html
  5. https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/rubber-boa.htm
  6. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/62228/0

Published on November 4th 2016 by Sudipto Chakrabarti under Coniferous Forest Animals.
Article was last reviewed on 4th November 2016.

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