Rubber Boa Scientific name: Charina bottae :........PDF version of this page see link: http://www.bcreptiles.ca/snakes/rubberboa.htm (Found at 1 Mile Lake, Pemberton RePosted by Myson Effa Manager Pemberton Gateway Village Suites ) Rarely does a name suit so well! Between 35 and 80 cm long and fairly thick-bodied, the Rubber Boa resembles a rubbery tube with a slight taper at each end - similar in shape to what you'd roll out of a ball of clay. Its loose skin and many small, smooth scutes (scales) combine to give the snake its rubbery appearance. Adult Rubber Boas are dark olive green to brown in colour, and their bellies are pale yellow to orangish yellow. As juveniles however, their small size and pinkish colour are strikingly similar to that of an earthworm! However, the Rubber Boa is much more fascinating than its simple exterior suggests. Larsen_Boa1_250.jpgAlso known as the "Two Headed Snake", it can be difficult to tell a boa's head from its tail. Rubber Boas have little to no neck and their eyes are tiny. When being attacked, the Rubber Boa contributes to the confusion by curling in a ball and hiding its head beneath its body. The tail, equipped with a small hard cap, is then presented as a decoy, and the snake often will jab its tail about as if striking. This way, the snake avoids any harm to its vital head region. If the predator remains undeterred, Rubber Boas can release a smelly musk from their vent. However, that's as much as this sluggish, secretive snake can muster - Rubber Boas never bite, and are happier hiding beneath a damp log than waging battle. A true boa constrictor, the Rubber Boa belongs to a famous family of snakes. This family includes, among others, Reticulated Pythons and Anacondas! As evidence of this relationship, the Rubber Boa has tiny vestigial (remnant) limbs on either side of its vent. These tiny 'spurs' are more obvious on males than females. These vestigial limbs are found on boa constrictors all over the world.......................................................................... rePosted Tweet: @PemGateway #1MileLake #RubberBoa/#Charinabottae.#Pemberton=TownClosestEitherPoleW/#boa #Constrictors http://t.co/yB5Cschc3Y .......................................................RePosted from FB August 14 ''Don't Tread On Me!'' Please be careful of the rare Rubber Boas at 1Mile Lake, as they lie across the boardwalk, & foot & bike Paths, to sun themselves to warm up. When they flush their skin with blood they range from grey to black. When not flushing their skin, with blood they are the light brown colour of the log pictured below. To warm it's self up, the snake sends its blood right under the skin so the warm sunlight will gently heat it up. These snakes only grow to 4 feet, 1.2 meters (1.2m) So no danger to anyone but the tiniest new born or miniature dog left unattended - puma & coyote danger is much higher. They are very good. They eat mice & rats @PemGateway Seen@ 1MileLake RubberBoa/ Charinabottae.Pemberton=TownClosest2EitherPoleW/ boa Constrictors.@PembertonBC @VCMBC pic.twitter.com/xOuseZ2yth