''Charina umbratica'', known commonly as the southern rubber boa, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

snake Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Boidae The Boidae, commonly known as boas or boids, are a family of nonvenomous snakes primarily found in the Americas, as well as Africa, Europe, Asia, and some Pacific Islands. Boas include some of the world's largest snakes, with the green anaconda ...

. The species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to the

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, in southern

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

Taxonomy

The southern rubber boa, also known as ''Charina umbratica'', has been proposed as an independent species because of its morphological and geographic differences. A study published in 2001 concluded that ''Charina umbratica'' is separated from its subclade. This means that the southern rubber boa and its subclades have allopatric distributions. All evidence gathered from the mitochondrial DNA study points to consider ''Charina umbratic'' as a distinct species. Despite the distinction of the two subclades, a more recent study suggests that grounds for distinction of clades may be invalid as range movements may not be as thoroughly studied and contextualized as previously considered.

Conservation status

As of April 2017, the southern rubber boa was listed as a state threatened species in the California Natural Diversity Database.

Description

The southern rubber boa is a small snake with a blunt tail. Due to its secretive nature, it makes it very difficult to collect these snakes for data. However, a five-year study done in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California has been able to provide information on this reptile. The study was published in the Journal of Herpentology, and concluded that the female boas length & weight out-performed the male boas. In addition, adult female boas were found to have greater percentages of tail tip scarring/ tail shortening when compared to males. Furthermore, this study also explored the weight loss that happens during gestation for female boas and determined that female boas lose 47% of their weight during gestation.

Habitat

The southern rubber boa is known to typically inhabit areas such woodlands and coniferous forests characterized by their developed soils and great vegetative productivity. These areas are typically moist and may contain accumulated organic debris that are largely-responsible for the moisture levels of inhabited sites. The southern rubber boa makes use of outcrops, loose and developed soils, as well as tree-debris to burrow and seek refuge.

Distribution

The southern rubber boa is distributed across the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains, at elevations between 4,900 and 7,900 feet. Phylogenetic analyses have conclusively distinguished northern and southern boas and identified an area in Northeastern California containing populations of both subspecies. Some intergrades between northern and southern boas have been located in isolated populations in the Southern Los Padres Ranges.

Behavior

A five-year study done in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California analyzed the diet and behavior of the southern rubber boa. This study discussed the behavior of the southern rubber boa and its distinct tendency to eat lizard eggs, rather than the lizards themselves. The behavior exhibited from the southern rubber boa to eat the lizard eggs and not the lizard, is what separates the southern rubber boa from other rubber boas. In like manner, this study also found that female boa injuries are primarily received through other animals protecting their young from boa predation.

Reproduction

Boas are ovoviviparous – they produce between two and eight young snakes where eggs are hatched within the parent. In April, female boas typically emerge from hibernation under reproductive conditions; mating occurs immediately and persists through May. They give birth between late summer and throughout autumn with a greater majority of young birthed between late August through September.

Predators

Known predators of the southern rubber boa include kingsnakes (''Lampropeltis'') and California striped racer (''Masticophis lateralis''). Other local reptilian predators presumed to prey on the southern rubber boa include ring-necked snakes (''Diadophis punctatus'') and night snakes (''Hypsiglena torquata'').