Animal Field Guide

Rubber Boa

Charina bottae
(Boidae)

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4

Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS: none
BLM: none

This snake looks and feels like rubber, hence its name. It is a small, stout snake (12 to 28 inches) with very small eyes and a blunt tail. The scales are small and smooth, except for those on the head, which are enlarged. The back is colored a uniform brown or green, and the belly is cream to tan. Young snakes are more tan (even pinkish) than the adults on both surfaces (FWP). A smooth, shiny, stout-bodied snake that looks and feels like rubber; tail is short, blunt, and shaped somewhat like the head; dorsal scales are small; dorsum of adult is plain brown to olive green, venter is cream to yellow, sometimes with dark flecks or brown, orange, or black mottling; young are pinkish to tan above, light yellow to pink below; top of head is covered with large symmetrical plates; pupil is vertically oval; males and some females have a spur on each side in the anal region; total length of adults usually is 35-83 cm (Stebbins 1985).

The racer is much more active, has larger eyes, and has a thin, tapered tail.

Nonmigratory.

Rubber boas are secretive, slow-moving, docile snakes, usually found under logs and rocks in either moist or dry forest habitats. They are primarily nocturnal, but occasionally may be observed sunning on roads, trails, or in open areas. They feed primarily on small mice but also take shrews, salamanders, snakes, and lizards. Two to eight young are born alive in late summer or early fall (FWP). In Mission Mtns were usually found in large talus slides or under logs/rocks near slides (Brunson and Demaree 1951) or in leaf-litter in deep shaded Doug fir-cedar forest (Franz 1971). Often found in areas with many flat rocks & near water (Baxter and Stone 1980).

One found dead on road contained a MICROTUS LONGICAUDUS (Brunson and Demaree 1951).

In W OR, found in variety of habitats except areas with reg- ular grazing or cultivation, or areas periodically flooded (Hower 1974). Largely crepuscular or nocturnal (Stebbins 1954).

Probably mate later inland. In E OR, mate late-Apr - early May. Young usually born in Sep (Nussbaum 1983). Reported parturition dates are Sep (UT) and Sep 20-21 (WA). Ave number of young = 4.4 (2-8) (Fitch and Fleet 1970).