Northern Rubber Boa Snake

A true boa constrictor the rubber boa belongs to a famous family of snakes.

Northern rubber boa snake. 15 33 inches 38 84 cm weight. Individuals of this species reach maturity in three to five years and may live over 20 years. Coastal rubber boa northern rubber boa two headed snake. The rubber boa is a primitive snake compared to its much larger relatives native to latin america which include the boa constrictor emerald tree boa and green anaconda.

These tiny spurs are more obvious on males than females. As evidence of this relationship the rubber boa has tiny vestigial remnant limbs on either side of its vent. Young are born pinkish but darken as they age. It is a small shiny stout snake 12 to 28 inches with very small eyes and a blunt tail.

Ventral side yellow olive green to orange. 1 23 2 47 oz 35 70 g color. Dark brown to tan back. Rubber boas are non venomous stout bodied species of snakes belonging to the boidae family found in the western united states and british columbia canada.

Rubber boas were found in 2006 and 2010 at montana de oro on the coast of san luis obispo county with photo confirmation in 2010. Bottae but stebbins mcginnis 2012 state that c. Northern rubber boas can also feed on lizard and snake eggs. Northern rubber boa charina bottae conservation status review review date 05 03 2018 view state conservation rank criteria.

Young northern rubber boas move out during spring after their first hibernation and reach maturity at around 2 to 3. Northern rubber boas breed after emerging from hibernation in march and april and females give birth to between two and eight young in late summer. The rubber boa is nocturnal and due to this and its cryptic nature rarely seen. Each baby snake weighs only 7 5 grams and is 7 to 11 inches long.

The scales are small and smooth except for those on the head. Female northern rubber boas give live birth to two to eight young in the late summer or fall. They can tolerate cold much better than most snakes. They are one of the smallest members of the boa family.

The northern boa is found chiefly in british columbia but these snakes have also been thriving in idaho montana wyoming utah and oregon. This family includes among others reticulated pythons and anacondas. This snake looks and feels like rubber hence its name. The key difference is that the northern rubber boa prefers the temperate or cooler climate whereas the southern boa prefers slightly warmer conditions.