Many wild caught Rubber Boas have scarring (most often on the tail) from mice, voles, moles, etc. This individual, although wild has not yet had any scarring to his tail. The tail was thought to be scarred primarily due to being offered as a false head when the snake is attacked. While this appears to be one cause, the tail is often the most scarred part of the snake as they use it to deflect attacks from adult mice while the other end empties the nest of babies. Rubber Boas in a feeding mood, almost a "frenzy", seem undeterred by an adult mouse's bites. Rather, they position their tail to be bitten, and twitch it swiftly each time to hold off the adult.
 
Previous Photo     Go back to list of all photos     Next Photo