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Sharp-Tailed Snake H WILDLIFE IN BRITIS COLUMBIAAT RISK Sharp-tailed Snake This slug-eating snake is Endangered and is found at only a handful of sites in coastal British Columbia. Ministry of Water, Land & Air Protection Other threats to the Sharp-tailed most likely an error. Recent records Snake include loss of critical habitats (since 1996) come from North Pender, or cover because of landscaping prac- South Pender, and Saltspring islands and tices or recreational activities. Snakes from the district of Metchosin. Addit- Why are Sharp-tailed Snakes may also be run over by vehicles, ional undiscovered populations may at risk? or be killed by domestic cats or other exist along the coast, but it is unlikely he Sharp-tailed Snake has a very re- predators. that there are many of these. At each of stricted geographic range in Canada the known sites, the area occupied by and is found in only a few localities in What is their status? these snakes appears to be very small Tsouthwestern British Columbia: he Sharp-tailed Snake exists at the (patches less than 3 kilometres long; in the Gulf Islands (North and South northern limits of its distribution in and areas less than a hectare in some Pender, Saltspring, and Galiano) and British Columbia, and its rarity in localities). Populations in British Col- on southern Vancouver Island. Because Tthe province is probably due to his- umbia are probably small, but there these populations are small and isolated, torical factors, such as past climatic fluc- is little information on their densi- they are vulnerable to extinction from tuations. The geographic range of the ties, and there are no estimates of human disturbance, natural catastrophes, species extends from southwestern British population size. and chance events. The rarity of these Columbia south to central California. The Sharp-tailed Snake is on the snakes, combined with the loss and frag- The entire northern portion of this provincial Red List (highest risk cate- mentation of their forest habitats, rais- range, from British Columbia to central gory) and is considered critically imper- es concerns about the persistence of the Oregon, is highly fragmented. In the illed. Because this species is so rare species in British Columbia. southern part of its and its habitats are so threatened, the The Sharp-tailed Snake occurs Black-and- range in south- Committee on the Status of Endan- in a relatively densely populated white barring ern Oregon and gered Wildlife in Canada () part of the province where natural California, however, designated the Sharp-tailed Snake as habitats have undergone exten- on the under- these snakes appear Endangered in 1999. sive modification since European side and a to be more wide- settlement. Little remains of the spread and locally What do they look like? coastal Douglas-fir ecosystems tiny, thorn- abundant. he Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia tenuis) that once covered the southeast like spike on The first record- is a small, slender snake with smooth coast of Vancouver Island, the ed specimen of a scales and a small head. Adults are Gulf Islands, and a strip of land the end of Sharp-tailed Snake Tabout 20 to 30 centimetres long and along the lower mainland coast. the tail are from British Col- the thickness of a pencil; newly hatched Housing, agricultural and other umbia was collect- young are only 6 to 7 cm long. The kinds of development now take characteristic ed from Vancouver back is reddish brown and a faint, paler up about 30 percent of the of this species. Island during an stripe, bordered by black from below, land-base, and only about 0.5 exploratory voyage may be present on each side. Juveniles percent is older forest (over 120 years by ... Plumper in 1857–1861. The are typically more brightly coloured old). All recent locality records for exact place where the specimen was col- than are adults. The face usually has a the Sharp-tailed Snake are from less lected is uncertain, although one source dark stripe on each side, across the eye. densely populated parts of this places it in the Cowichan district. The Black-and-white barring on the under- region. These areas are now experienc- next record from the province is from side is characteristic of this species. ing a high rate of human population North Pender Island in 1949, almost The Sharp-tailed Snake gets its common growth, which results in more hous- a century later. A few locality records name from its tail, which ends abruptly ing developments and a consequent loss have been added since then, including in a tiny, thorn-like spike. of wildlife habitats. In the southern one from the district of Metchosin at The Sharp-tailed Snake may be Gulf Islands the human population has the southern tip of Vancouver Island, confused with young garter snakes increased about 32 percent over the past several from Pender and Saltspring (adult garter snakes are much larger), decade (1991–2002), and is expected to Islands, and one from Galiano Island. three species of which occur within its increase a further 50 percent over the An isolated record from near Chase range in British Columbia. The Sharp- next 30 years. in the interior of the province is tailed Snake is different from these in the following ways: 1) smooth rather represent a separate species. The relation- are rare and at risk in British Columbia. than keeled (rough to the feel) body ship of this genus to other members of the These snakes are harmless to humans, scales; 2) divided rather than single cosmopolitan family Colubridae (harm- and they can be beneficial because they anal plate (a scale immediately before less snakes, which also include garter feed mainly on slugs, some of which the anus, or vent, when viewed snakes) is unclear. are introduced garden pests. These from beneath); 3) a tail that tapers The Sharp- Southwestern attractive, non-threatening animals abruptly into a sharp, thorn- tailed Snake British Columbia is have a high potential as a subject for like scale rather than tapering the northern limit environmental awareness and educa- gradually; 4) distinct black-and- is a unique of the Sharp-tailed tional programs. white barring on the underside; component Snake’s distribution. 5) the absence of a stripe along Some scientists ar- How do they reproduce? the mid-back (usually present of our native gue that such popu- nlike garter snakes that give birth to in garter snakes). Coastal lations are important live young, the Sharp-tailed Snake for the persistence of is an egg-layer. The female lays from What makes them unique? Douglas-fir a species, because Uthree to five soft-shelled, leathery he Sharp-tailed Snake has no ecosystems. they may possess eggs in the spring or early summer in close relatives and is the only unique adaptations suitable sheltered, warm locations. currently recognized species of the that enhance the species’ ability to Because the embryo’s development Tgenus Contia. However, recent mor- respond to broad-scale environmental depends on heat from the environment, phological and genetic evidence suggests changes, such as climate change. the availability of suitably warm egg- that a different form of the Sharp-tailed The Sharp-tailed Snake is a unique laying sites is very important. The eggs Snake exists in parts of California and component of our native coastal hatch in the early autumn into tiny southern Oregon and this form may Douglas-fir ecosystems, many of which snakes that, coiled up, fit on the surface of a quarter. In British Columbia, the Distribution of Contia tenuis The Sharp-tailed Snake can live in young snakes may reach adult size in forests of varying ages, and is not about three years, but little information restricted to old-growth stands. It can exists on their growth rates and the age tolerate some degree of human dis- when they reach sexual maturity. Indi- turbance and can coexist with low- vidual snakes can live six or seven years density urban developments, if enough or more in the wild, but whether females cover is retained for refuges and egg- reproduce each year is unknown. laying sites. What do they eat? What can we do? harp-tailed Snakes feed mainly on he Sharp-tailed Snake is rare in slugs and slug eggs. Their teeth are British Columbia. Because it has long compared to those of other for- specific habitat requirements and Sest-dwelling snakes of similar body Tdoes not appear to move long dis- size and are thought to be an adaptation tances, the number of localities where for feeding on this slippery prey. Unlike the snake is found is unlikely to increase garter snakes, Sharp-tailed Snakes are substantially through natural dispersal. most active during relatively moist and All existing populations are thus cool conditions; these are the same con- important for the continued persis- ditions in which slugs are most active. rarely found on the surface away from tence of this species in British Colum- cover. Consequently, these snakes are bia. In the long term, it may be possible Where do they live? seldom seen, even at locations where to down-list the species if threats to its he Sharp-tailed Snake they are known to habitat diminish. inhabits woodlands and Unlike garter be present. Their A recovery team has been formed open forests. In British snakes that activity patterns to oversee and coordinate recovery TColumbia, the species is are highly season- efforts for the Sharp-tailed Snake. The found in coastal Douglas-fir give birth to al, further restrict- team includes members from provin- ecosystems. Several sites where live young, the ing opportunities cial, federal and regional district agen- the species occurs are domi- for observation.
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