Charina bottae
WHAT: A snake with glossy, rubbery appearance, short broad snout and short blunt tail that looks very much like its head. Olive-green, reddish brown or tan to chocolate brown with smooth scales.
WHERE: Wide variety of habitats but usually near water, along the west coast of North America.
SIZE: Length 14-33 in.
EATS: Mostly nestlings of rodents and shrews, also reptiles, amphibians and birds.
BABIES: Like all true boas they give birth to live young, usually 2-8 in August-September.
STATUS: Secure.
FUN FACTS: Rubber boas are crepuscular and nocturnal (active at twilight and night). Good burrowers, they escape the heat under rocks or in damp sand, logs or forest litter.
They are also good swimmers and climbers, their tails helping them climb small trees. They avoid predators by moving slowly in low light.
When attacked, they emit a strong musk odor and try to burrow to escape. If this isn’t possible, they coil into a ball, bury their head and wave their tail in the air.
Taricha granulosa
Rana aurora