Rubber Boa

Charina bottae

Rubber Boa

Charina bottae

Other Common Names
Northern rubber boa, Coastal rubber boa, “Two-headed snake”

Presentation Spaces

Other Common Names

Northern rubber boa, Coastal rubber boa, “Two-headed snake”

At the Aquarium

Presentation Spaces

Appearance

As its name might suggest, this species has a rubbery appearance and feel due to its loose and wrinkled skin. The top of rubber boas varies from olive green to light or dark brown. The underside of this species is yellow or cream. Some individuals have dark mottling on their belly. This snake has a blunt tail that looks similar to its head. The rubber boa has tiny scales and small eyes with vertical pupils.

Females reach greater lengths than males but have shorter tails. Rubber boas have anal spurs which are rudiments of hind limbs. These spurs are located beside the cloaca, which is the end of their digestive tract. The spurs of males are larger and hooked downward, while those of females are smaller and may not be visible. Juvenile rubber boas look similar to adults but are tan or pinkish in color. In the Northwest part of its range, the rubber boa rarely exceeds 2 feet in length.

Habitat

Woodlands, forest clearings, meadows, grassy savannas and deserts. This species generally lives near water.

Diet

Small mammals, especially young mice and shrews, as well as salamanders, lizards, snakes, small birds and possibly frogs.

Life History

Rubber boas are usually found in or under rotting logs or stumps, under rocks or in crevices, or under the bark of fallen trees. This species is active at night, spending much of their time below ground.

This species hibernates in the winter and is active from March through November.

Breeding occurs during April and May. Then 2 to 8 young are live-born from August through November.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Some Native American Nations wore rubber boas tails as charms believing they would help provide protection from grizzly bears.

As predators, rubber boas help regulate rodent populations. They are also food sources for larger predators.

From southern British Columbia south to west-central California, central Nevada, and southern Utah; from the Pacific coast east to north-central Wyoming and western Montana

Rubber boas can be found south of Coos Bay along the coast in forest clearings with rotting stumps and logs.

Rubber boas are constrictors, meaning they wrap themselves around their prey and squeeze them to death.

This species is often called the “two-headed snake” since its blunt tail looks very similar to its head. When threatened the rubber boa usually rolls into a ball, hides its head and extends its tail as a decoy head. They will also emit a strong musk to deter potential predators.

Even though rubber boas spend much of their time below ground they can also climb and swim.

Citations & Other Resources

Hammerson, G.A. 2019. Charina bottae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019.
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. N.d. Rubber Boa. https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing/species/rubber-boa
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. N.d. Northern rubber boa. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/charina-bottae#conservation
Nussbaum, R. A., E.D. Brodie, and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and reptiles of the Pacific northwest. University Press of Idaho.
St. John, A. D. 2002. Reptiles of the Northwest. Lone Pine Pub.
Seattle Audubon Society., H.A. Brown, R.M. Storm, and W.P. Leonard. 1995. Reptiles of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society.
Burke Museum. N.d. Northern Rubber Boa. https://www.burkemuseum.org/collections-and-research/biology/herpetology/amphibians-reptiles-washington/northern-rubber-boa

Rubber Boa

Rubber Boa

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

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