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Northern Rubber Boa - Charina bottae
Other Names:
Rubber Boa
Native Species
Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S4
(see State Rank Reason below)
Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:
External Links
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Species is apparently secure and not at risk of extirpation or facing significant threats in all or most of its range.
General Description
EGGS:
The Northern Rubber Boa is viviparous, eggs develop internally, and females give birth to live young.
NEONATES:
Newborns are lighter in color than adults and are typically tan/pink dorsally with a yellow/cream ventral side. Newborns weigh 7-8 g (0.25-0.28 oz) and total length averages 215 mm (8.5 in.) (Erwin 1964, Hoyer 1974, Nussbaum et al. 1983, Werner et al. 2004).
JUVENILES AND ADULTS:
Total length (TL) ranges from 36-71 cm (14-28 in) with females reaching greater lengths than males (Stebbins 1985, Russell and Bauer 2000, Werner et al. 2004). Dorsal coloration is typically brown, tan or even olive fading to yellow ventrally sometimes with orange, brown or black mottling. This snake looks and feels like rubber, hence its name. Key features of the Northern Rubber Boa are the uniformly wide body and blunt, wedge-shaped head. Small uniform scales and chin shields relatively identical in size to adjacent scales are also key features. The tail is short ending in a rounded plate. Downward facing anal spurs (remnant hind limbs) on each side of the cloacal opening are well-developed in males and in females the spurs typically project straight toward the rear. Eyes are small with vertical pupils and there are 9-11 upper labial (lip) scales (Nussbaum and Hoyer 1974, Nussbaum et al. 1983, Russell and Bauer 2000, Werner et al. 2004).
Diagnostic Characteristics
The Northern Rubber Boa (
Charina bottae) has a uniform, tube-like shape and the coloration easily distinguishes this species from other snakes in Montana. The North American Racer (
Coluber constrictor) is much more active, has larger eyes, and has a thin, tapered tail.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Western Hemisphere Range
Range Comments
The Northern Rubber Boa ranges from the northern Rocky Mountains west to the pacific coast and south into California, Nevada and portions of Utah (Stewart 1977, Werner et al. 2004). Three subspecies of Rubber Boa are recognized, although there has been considerable debate about subspecies designations (Nussbaum and Hoyer 1974, Stewart 1977, Rodriguez-Robles et al. 2001). Of the three subspecies, only the Northern Rubber Boa (Charina bottae bottae) occurs in Montana. Previously this species was found in 16 western counties of Montana. In 2008, an individual was documented in eastern Big Horn County resulting in a range extension of 185 km (115 mi) from the previous most eastern record near Red Lodge. Currently, this species has been documented in 26 Counties in Montana and the most eastern record in the state is in Rosebud County (MTNHP 2023).
Maximum elevation: 2,426 m (7,959 ft) in Park County (D. Taylor, MTNHP 2023).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 522
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Migration
Non-migratory.
Habitat
Northern Rubber Boa are secretive, slow-moving, docile snakes. They can be found under rocks and logs, in either moist or dry forest habitats and by searching through rotting stumps (Nussbaum et al. 1983, Werner et al. 2004). Northern Rubber Boa can also be found under man-made debris such as boards, metal roofing, and cardboard (Hoyer 1974, Hoyer and Stewart 2000a). Individuals have even been observed climbing trees and swimming (Russell and Bauer 2000, St. John 2002, Werner et al. 2004). In western Oregon, individuals have been found in a variety of habitats except areas with regular grazing or cultivation, or areas periodically flooded (Hoyer 1974). Northern Rubber Boa are most associated with forested habitats in Montana; however, use of non-forested habitats has been recorded in other regions (Hoyer 1974, Nussbaum et al. 1983). Most records of Northern Rubber Boa in Montana are close to areas with high human densities and the species may be more common than previously thought (Maxell et al. 2003). In Mission Mountains, this species was usually found in large talus slides or under logs/rocks near slides (Brunson and Demaree 1951) or in leaf-litter in deep shaded Douglas-fir/Cedar forest (Franz 1971). Often found in areas with many flat rocks and near water (Baxter and Stone 1980).
Ecological Systems Associated with this Species
- Details on Creation and Suggested Uses and Limitations
How Associations Were Made
We associated the use and habitat quality (common or occasional) of each of the 82 ecological systems mapped in Montana for
vertebrate animal species that regularly breed, overwinter, or migrate through the state by:
- Using personal observations and reviewing literature that summarize the breeding, overwintering, or migratory habitat requirements of each species (Dobkin 1992, Hart et al. 1998, Hutto and Young 1999, Maxell 2000, Foresman 2012, Adams 2003, and Werner et al. 2004);
- Evaluating structural characteristics and distribution of each ecological system relative to the species' range and habitat requirements;
- Examining the observation records for each species in the state-wide point observation database associated with each ecological system;
- Calculating the percentage of observations associated with each ecological system relative to the percent of Montana covered by each ecological system to get a measure of "observations versus availability of habitat".
Species that breed in Montana were only evaluated for breeding habitat use, species that only overwinter in Montana were only evaluated for overwintering habitat use, and species that only migrate through Montana were only evaluated for migratory habitat use.
In general, species were listed as associated with an ecological system if structural characteristics of used habitat documented in the literature were present in the ecological system or large numbers of point observations were associated with the ecological system.
However, species were not listed as associated with an ecological system if there was no support in the literature for use of structural characteristics in an ecological system,
even if point observations were associated with that system.
Common versus occasional association with an ecological system was assigned based on the degree to which the structural characteristics of an ecological system matched the preferred structural habitat characteristics for each species as represented in scientific literature.
The percentage of observations associated with each ecological system relative to the percent of Montana covered by each ecological system was also used to guide assignment of common versus occasional association.
If you have any questions or comments on species associations with ecological systems, please contact the Montana Natural Heritage Program's Senior Zoologist.
Suggested Uses and Limitations
Species associations with ecological systems should be used to generate potential lists of species that may occupy broader landscapes for the purposes of landscape-level planning.
These potential lists of species should not be used in place of documented occurrences of species (this information can be requested at:
mtnhp.mt.gov/requests) or systematic surveys for species and evaluations of habitat at a local site level by trained biologists.
Users of this information should be aware that the land cover data used to generate species associations is based on imagery from the late 1990s and early 2000s and was only intended to be used at broader landscape scales.
Land cover mapping accuracy is particularly problematic when the systems occur as small patches or where the land cover types have been altered over the past decade.
Thus, particular caution should be used when using the associations in assessments of smaller areas (e.g., evaluations of public land survey sections).
Finally, although a species may be associated with a particular ecological system within its known geographic range, portions of that ecological system may occur outside of the species' known geographic range.
Literature Cited
- Adams, R.A. 2003. Bats of the Rocky Mountain West; natural history, ecology, and conservation. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado. 289 p.
- Dobkin, D. S. 1992. Neotropical migrant land birds in the Northern Rockies and Great Plains. USDA Forest Service, Northern Region. Publication No. R1-93-34. Missoula, MT.
- Foresman, K.R. 2012. Mammals of Montana. Second edition. Mountain Press Publishing, Missoula, Montana. 429 pp.
- Hart, M.M., W.A. Williams, P.C. Thornton, K.P. McLaughlin, C.M. Tobalske, B.A. Maxell, D.P. Hendricks, C.R. Peterson, and R.L. Redmond. 1998. Montana atlas of terrestrial vertebrates. Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, Missoula, MT. 1302 p.
- Hutto, R.L. and J.S. Young. 1999. Habitat relationships of landbirds in the Northern Region, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS-GTR-32. 72 p.
- Maxell, B.A. 2000. Management of Montana's amphibians: a review of factors that may present a risk to population viability and accounts on the identification, distribution, taxonomy, habitat use, natural history, and the status and conservation of individual species. Report to U.S. Forest Service Region 1. Missoula, MT: Wildlife Biology Program, University of Montana. 161 p.
- Werner, J.K., B.A. Maxell, P. Hendricks, and D. Flath. 2004. Amphibians and reptiles of Montana. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company. 262 p.
- Commonly Associated with these Ecological Systems
Forest and Woodland Systems
Grassland Systems
Recently Disturbed or Modified
Shrubland, Steppe and Savanna Systems
Sparse and Barren Systems
Wetland and Riparian Systems
- Occasionally Associated with these Ecological Systems
Forest and Woodland Systems
Grassland Systems
Human Land Use
Recently Disturbed or Modified
Shrubland, Steppe and Savanna Systems
Sparse and Barren Systems
Wetland and Riparian Systems
Food Habits
Most foraging occurs at night and the diet consists largely of small mammals that they kill through constriction (Rodriguez-Robles et al. 1999, Hoyer and Stewart 2000b). One found dead on a road contained a Long-tailed Vole (
Microtus longicaudus) (Brunson and Demaree 1951). Northern Rubber Boa are especially effective at locating and consuming nests of young rodents (Rodriguez-Robles et al. 1999). They have been known to use their tail to fend off adult mice when preying on nestlings (Hoyer 1974, Hoyer and Stewart 2000b).
Ecology
Largely crepuscular or nocturnal (Stebbins 1954), but occasionally may be observed sunning on roads, trails, or in open areas. Typically, individuals are active from April-October; even in temperatures as low as 10 °C (50 °F). Northern Rubber Boa hibernate for the remainder of the year and although accounts are limited, hibernacula were found in rock outcroppings in California (Hoyer and Stewart 2000a). St. John (2002) discovered communal hibernation even in sawdust piles. The tail may also be used as defense against other predators such as raptors and weasels (Werner et al. 2004). Little is known about the life history of Northern Rubber Boa in the wild, however, individuals in captivity can live for more than 18 years (Werner et al. 2004).
Reproductive Characteristics
Northern Rubber Boa breed in the spring and young are born between late summer and early fall. Litters range from 2-8 with an average of 4.4 (Fitch and Fleet 1970, Nussbaum et al. 1983, Russell and Bauer 2000, Werner et al. 2004). The time required to reach sexual maturity is unknown; however, Werner et al. (2004) report that individuals with a total length > 360 mm (14 in.) can breed and Nussbaum et al. (1983) state that maturity is reached at lengths > 450 mm (18 in.) for females and 545 mm (21.5 in.) for males in Oregon.
Management
The following was taken from the Status and Conservation section for the Northern Rubber Boa account in
Maxell et al. 2009.
Observations of Northern Rubber Boa in Montana are rare, but are often associated with areas of human activity, indicating that this cryptic species is relatively common and is just observed relatively infrequently. There is little research that addresses the conservation status or impacts of anthropogenic disturbances to Northern Rubber Boa in Montana. For example, no studies have assessed the potential impacts of habitat alteration to Northern Rubber Boa. Individual studies that specifically identify risk factors or other issues relevant to the conservation of Northern Rubber Boa include the following: (1) Specimens have been collected as a result of roadway mortality (Ortenburger 1921), but we do not know the level of impact roads may have on Northern Rubber Boa populations. Roadways have been shown to have negative impacts to other reptile and amphibian populations (Maxell and Hokit 1999) but research that has linked roadways to population level parameters typically involved species concentrated within a particular habitat, such as frogs and turtles near ponds (Maxell and Hokit 1999). Roadways could have negative impacts in areas where Northern Rubber Boa are highly concentrated, such as adjacent to hibernacula. Snake mortality on roadways, at times in great numbers, has been documented widely with some drivers even purposely swerving to kill snakes (Langley et al. 1989, Krivda 1993, Rosen and Lowe 1994, Hammerson 1999). Negative impacts to herpetofauna from off-road vehicle (ORV) use have been documented. Both reptiles and their associated prey were less abundant in areas with high ORV use compared to areas with no ORV use (Maxell and Hokit 1999). (2) Generally, snakes near human population centers or areas with high levels of recreational use can experience mortality from humans, predation from pets or even predation from small carnivores that can exist at higher densities near human concentrations (Maxell and Hokit 1999). Stuart et al. (2001) found snakes entangled in plastic netting that is commonly used to protect fruit trees and gardens from pests. (3) Although the Northern Rubber Boa is extremely docile and non-venomous, a general lack of knowledge about snakes coupled with deeply anchored fears sometimes leads humans to destroy snakes on sight, regardless of the species (Dodd 1993, Maxell and Hokit 1999). (4) Chemical contamination may adversely affect snakes (Werner et al. 2004). However, changes in agricultural practices and federal laws can sometimes mitigate these impacts. For example, DDT levels in snakes have declined since the banning of pesticides (Fleet and Plapp 1978). Snakes may bioaccumulate pollutants and may be used as valuable bioindicators of overall environmental health (Bauerle et al. 1975, Stafford et al. 1976, Anderson 1977).
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Anderson, M.E. 1977. Aspects of the ecology of two sympatric species of Thamnophis and heavy metal accumulation with the species. M.S. thesis, University of Montana, Missoula. 147 pp.
- Bauerle, B., D.L. Spencer, and W. Wheeler. 1975. The use of snakes as pollution indicator species. Copeia 1975: 366-368.
Baxter, G.T. and M.D. Stone. 1980. Amphibians and reptiles of Wyoming. Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Cheyenne. 137 pp.- Brunson, R.B. and H.A. Demaree, Jr. 1951. The herpetology of the Mission Mountains, Montana. Copeia (4):306-308.
- Dodd, C.K., Jr. 1993. Strategies for snake conservation. In Snakes; ecology and behavior. Ed. R. A. Seigel and J. T. Collins. 363-393. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Erwin, D.B. 1964. Some findings on newborn rubber boas, Charina b. bottae. Copeia 1964: 222-223.
- Fitch, H.S. and R.R. Fleet. 1970. Natural history of the milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) in northeastern Kansas. Herpetologica 26: 387-396.
- Fleet, R.R. and F.W. Plapp, Jr. 1978. DDT residues in snakes decline since DDT ban. Bulletin of Environmental Contaminants and Toxicology 19: 383-388.
- Franz, R. 1971. Notes on the distribution and ecology of the herpetofauna of northwestern Montana. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 7: 1-10.
- Hammerson, G.A. 1999. Amphibians and reptiles in Colorado. University Press of Colorado & Colorado Division of Wildlife. Denver, CO. 484 p.
- Hoyer, R.F. 1974. Description of a rubber boa (Charina bottae) population from western Oregon. Herpetologica 30(3): 275-283.
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- Hoyer, R.F. and G.R. Stewart. 2000b. Biology of the rubber boa (Charina bottae), with emphasis on C.b. umbratica. Part II: Diet, antagonists, and predators. Journal of Herpetology 34(3): 354-360.
- Krivda, W. 1993. Road kills of migrating garter snakes at The Pas, Manitoba. Blue Jay 51(4): 197-198.
- Langley, W.M., H.W. Lipps, and J.F. Theis. 1989. Responses of Kansas motorists to snake models on a rural highway. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 92(1-2) 43-48.
- Maxell, B.A. and D.G. Hokit. 1999. Amphibians and reptiles. Pages 2.1– 2.30 In G. Joslin and H. Youmans, committee chairs. Effects of recreation on Rocky Mountain wildlife: a compendium of the current state of understanding in Montana. Committee on Effects of Recreation on Wildlife, Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
- Maxell, B.A., J.K. Werner, P. Hendricks, and D.L. Flath. 2003. Herpetology in Montana: a history, status summary, checklists, dichotomous keys, accounts for native, potentially native, and exotic species, and indexed bibliography. Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology, Northwest Fauna Number 5. Olympia, WA. 135 p.
- Maxell, B.A., P. Hendricks, M.T. Gates, and S. Lenard. 2009. Montana amphibian and reptile status assessment, literature review, and conservation plan, June 2009. Montana Natural Heritage Program. Helena, MT. 643 p.
- Nussbaum, R.A. and R.F. Hoyer. 1974. Geographic variation and the validity of subspecies in the rubber boa, Charina bottae (Blainville). Northwest Science. 48:219-229.
- Nussbaum, R.A., E.D. Brodie, Jr. and R.M. Storm. 1983. Amphibians and reptiles of the Pacific Northwest. University of Idaho Press. Moscow, ID. 332 pp.
- Ortenburger, A.I. 1921. An eastern record and note on Charina bottae (Blainville). Copeia 1921:84.
- Rodrigues-Robles, J.A., C.J. Bell, and H.W. Greene. 1999. Gape size and evolution of diet in snakes: feeding ecology of erycine boas. J. Zoology (London) 248:49-58
- Rodríguez-Robles, J.A., G.R. Stewart, and T.J. Papenfuss. 2001. Mitochondrial DNA-based phylogeography of North American rubber boas, Charina bottae (Serpentes: Boidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 18(2): 227-237.
- Rosen, P.C. and C.H. Lowe. 1994. Highway mortality of snakes in the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona. Biological Conservation 68: 143-148.
- Russell, A. P. and A. M. Bauer. 2000. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Alberta: A field guide and primer of boreal herpetology. University of Calgary Press, Toronto, Ontario. 279 p.
- St. John, A.D. 2002. Reptiles of the northwest: California to Alaska, Rockies to the coast. Lone Pine Publishing, Renton, WA. 272 p.
- Stafford, D.P., F.W. Plapp, Jr., and R.R. Fleet. 1976. Snakes as indicators of environmental contamination: relation of detoxifying enzymes and pesticide residues to species occurrence in three aquatic ecosystems. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 5 :15-27.
- Stebbins, R.C. 1954. Amphibians and reptiles of western North America. McGraw-Hill, New York. Xxii + 528 pp.
- Stebbins, R.C. 1985. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 336 pp.
- Stewart, G.R. 1977. Charina, C. bottae. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 205.1-205.2.
- Stuart, J.N., M.L. Watson, T.L. Brown, and C. Eustice. 2001. Plastic netting: an entanglement hazard to snakes and other wildlife. Herpetological Review 32(3): 162-164.
- Werner, J.K., B.A. Maxell, P. Hendricks and D.L. Flath. 2004. Amphibians and Reptiles of Montana. Mountain Press Publishing Company: Missoula, MT. 262 pp.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- [WESTECH] Western Technology and Engineering Incorporated. 1993. Diamond Hill Project Wildlife Baseline Survey. Western Technology and Engineering, Inc., Helena, Mt.
- Agerter, K.S. 1932. A record snake found. Yellowstone Nature Notes 9(6-7): 33-34.
- Albertson, H. 1928. A new genus for Yellowstone. Yellowstone Nature Notes 5(9): 6-7.
- Bartholomew, B.D. and C. Lleyson. 1993. Charina bottae (rubber boa). Food. Herpetological Review 24(3): 105-106.
- Blainville, H.M.D. 1835. Nouvelles Annales du Museum D'Histoire Naturelle De Paris, Vol. 4, p. 289, pl. 26, figs. 1, 1b.
- Boundy, J. 2001. Herpetofaunal surveys in the Clark Fork Valley region, Montana. Herpetological Natural History 8: 15-26.
- Brunson, R.B. 1955. Check list of the amphibians and reptiles of Montana. Proceedings of the Montana Academy of Sciences 15: 27-29.
- Carpenter, C.C. 1953c. An ecological survey of the herpetofauna of the Grand Teton-Jackson Hole area of Wyoming. Copeia 1953: 170-174.
- Cope, E.D. 1875. Check-list of North American Batrachia and Reptilia; with a systematic list of the higher groups, and an essay on geographical distribution. Based on the specimens contained in the U.S. National Museum. U.S. Natioanl Museum Bulletin 1: 1-104.
- Copper, W.A., C.P. Ohmart, and D.L. Dahlsten. 1978. Predation by a rubber boa on chestnut-backed chickadees in an artificial nesting site. Western Birds 9(1):41-42.
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- Dorcas, M.E. and C.R. Peterson. 1994. Body temperature variation in free-ranging rubber boas (Charina Bottae). Journal of Idaho Academy of Science 30(1):9.
- Dorcas, M.E. and C.R. Peterson. 1997. Head-body temperature differences in free-ranging rubber boas. Journal of Herpetology 31(1): 87-93.
- Dorcas, M.E., C.R. Peterson, and M.E.T. Flint. 1997. The thermal biology of digestion in rubber boas (Charina bottae): physiology, behavior, and environmental constraints. Physiological Zoology 70(3): 292-300.
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- Farmer, P. and S.B. Heath. 1987. Wildlife baseline inventory, Rock Creek study area, Sanders County, Montana. Western Technology and Engineering, Inc. Helena, MT.
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- Hanauska-Brown, L., B.A. Maxell, A. Petersen, and S. Story. 2014. Diversity Monitoring in Montana 2008-2010 Final Report. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Helena, MT. 78 pp.
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- Hendricks, P. 1997. Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge preliminary amphibian and reptile investigations: 1996. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 21 p.
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