Impurest's Guide to Animals - Issue #81 Rubber Boa
By ImpurestCheese 52 Comments
August is here, and with such land mark events coming up such as a bank holiday and err…that’s it really. At least last week’s issue offered us some great hospitality in the form of the Fat Innkeeper Worm. This week’s animal is far more rubbery and cute, hope you guys enjoy this issue.
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Issue #81 – Rubber Boa
Kingdom – Animalia
Phylum – Chordata
Class – Reptilia
Order – Squamata
Family – Boidae
Genus – Charina
Species – bottae
Related Species – The Rubber Boa is most closely related to the Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata) (1)
Range
Rubber Snakes?
The Rubber Boa is a chocolate coloured snake, which grows up to 90cm long as an adult. The species possess loose skin with small scales, often giving them a rubbery appearance, hence the name of the animal. The tail is rounded and looks very similar to the head end of the boa, which has very small eyes, possibly due to living underground for long periods of time (2). Rubber boas are surprisingly cold tolerant, and can be found in areas with an altitude of 3000m or more, although the species does need adequate shelter and basking spots in such environments.
Like all snakes, the Rubber Boa is an obligate carnivore, and just as its larger relatives do, kills by constriction. Numerous species are taken by the snake, and it will happily include reptile and bird eggs in its diet as well. When attacked, the Rubber Boa makes mock strikes with its tail in order to divert attention away from its vulnerable head area, this behaviour is also used offensively when the snake raids mammal nests, using its tail to keep the mother rodent or shrew away from the boa as it eats her young (3).
Rubber Boas, like many of their larger relatives, are oviparous, giving birth to up to nine live young. Breeding however, takes place every four years, often in the spring to avoid cold night-time temperatures. The snake has a very long lifespan both in the wild and captivity, with ages of twenty to thirty often recorded. Young Rubber Boas are pink in colouration, although their skins darken with age and become baggier to resemble that of the adults.
Five Fun Rubber Boa Facts
The Rubber Boa is one of only two species (the other being the Rosy Boa) that is native to the North American continent
The oldest Rubber Boa in the wild was believed to be almost seventy years old.
When handled, the Rubber Boa is a gentle snake, and rarely bites even when threatened. It is the perfect snake to teach children how to handle this kind of animal.
Many descriptions list the Rubber Boa as a good swimmer, and while young snakes float, adults are in-fact very poor swimmers compared to other snakes living in the same area
Like all Boas and Pythons, the species retains two vestigial spurs that mark where the hips and back legs were
References
2. Hoyer, R. F. and G. R. Stewart. 2000. Biology of the rubber boa (Charina bottae), with emphasis on C. b. umbratica. Part I: Capture, size, sexual dimorphism, and reproduction. Journal of Herpetology
3. Hoyer, R. F. and G. R. Stewart. 2000. Biology of the rubber boa (Chrina bottae), with emphasis on C. b. umbratica. Part II: Diet, antagonists, and predators. Journal of Herpetology
Picture References
1. http://www.burkemuseum.org/images/photos/9116/charina_bottae_adam__large.jpg
2. http://www.herpedia.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_range.jpg
3. http://sonomacountyreptilerescue.com/images/native_species/rubber_boa/chad_lane/rb_1_cl.jpg
4. http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/46/46C028FC-4D2A-41AB-9B3C-F821C7978647/Presentation.Large/Rosy-boa-ssp-saslowi-head-detail.jpg
And there we have it, a real life adorable rubber snake. Next week we have a really ‘aard’ issue, but until then remember to critic, comment and discuss future species to cover as well as checking out past issues in Impurest’s Bestiary.
Many Thanks
Impurest Cheese