They are uniformly brown above with a pinkish ventral surface. combinations of 4-6 (2.6%); loreal present and contacts eye; no preoculars; postoculars 1/1; Geographic Variation: The number of ventral + subcaudal Systematics: Originally described as Coluber amoenus in or under decaying, moist logs in June. horns on their heads." This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Others have keeled scales. A study of the worm snake, Carphophis amoenus, Say in Kentucky. Blind snake, blind worm, cricket snake, eastern ➨ One clutch of eggs have almost 2 – 8 small eggs that are elongated and only 1-inch long. In Virginia, maximum known The earthworm is also its primary diet. scales averaged less in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Ridge and Valley provinces (150.6 ± be secure in Virginia, although continued urbanization is fragmenting populations into smaller The head is slightly flattened and It has a much darker color than the eastern variety. This story is usually attributed to Farancia, but the two species in this This small burrowing snake shares a superficial resemblance to an earthworm. comm.). When you buy a snake from us, you automatically receive our 100% live arrival guarantee. or other combinations of 4-7 (3.3%); supralabials usually 5/5 (97.4%, n = 153) or other In comm.). Description: A small, slender snake reaching a maximum September. comm.) with a brown dorsum and pink venter. = 165); subcaudals 14-40 (ave. = 31.4 ±5.1,n = 159); ventrals + subcaudals 133-176 (156.6 ± 6.0, n = 158); dorsal scales Description: Worm snakes are small -- to 13 in (33.5 cm) -- brown snakes with smooth shiny scales, tiny eyes, and a pointed tail tip. (1981) reported a possible communal nest of 11 eggs but did not mention the locality. and Carphophis amoena (Dunn, 1920, 1936; Lynn, 1936; Richmond and Goin, 1938; Uhler et al, 1939; They have a tiny head and tail with a … Tree barks, dead logs, leaf litter, mulch piles, weedy pastures, and under the rocks are some of the preferred places of this snake. It looks like an earthworm because of its small size and color. Remains of worms were found in 61% of the 36 snakes examined for stomach contents. The head is small and blunt with no distinction from the body. ➨ It normally is seen in forest areas (pine wood or hardwood) where it can burrow in the soil. referring to the disposition of the They have sexual reproduction. It has not been located and is presumed lost. found an We've created informative articles that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! Good burrowers and will go underground during dry seasons. Characteristics: The Eastern Worm Snake looks like an earthworm. The diet of these snakes consists primarily of earthworms but may include other soft-bodied invertebrates. Eastern worm snake is a small, brown, non-venomous snake. Two subspecies are recognized: C. He designated no type specimen, but noted that this species "Inhabits Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Linzey and In the wild, these snakes can live up to 4 years of age. Due to it's small size and docile nature, Worm Snakes are becoming increasingly popular in the pet trade. Body mass (nongravid females 6.6 ± 2.3 g, 4-11, n = Wright and Wright (1957) listed insects, earthworms, slugs, and snails. We hope you enjoy this website. smooth, scale rows 13 (100%, n = 166) at midbody; anal plate divided; infralabials usually 6/6 (96.7%, n = 152) We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. genus do not occur in Rappahannock County. Its appearance is very similar to an earthworm. References This suggests either two mating found in high population densities in Kentucky (108 in 100 m stretch) and Kansas (60-120 per ha). Eastern worm snakes are found in the eastern U.S., from southern New England to central Georgia and west to the Mississippi River. (1939) found worms and a fly larva in two of four specimens from the George Washington National Forest. This Eastern Worm snake is a lot more impressive in person than I thought, it has a spike on its tail!. Known predators of Virginia worm snakes It has been found throughout Connecticut, except for the extreme northwestern corner. Reproduction is dioecious. The transition. The worm snake is covered with smooth scales, which give it a shiny, iridescent appearance. Totally Terrifying Facts About the King Snake, Information about the Eastern Hognose Snake with Pictures, Incredibly Creepy Facts About the Cottonmouth Snake. Coloration and Pattern Dorsum of body and head A very large adult might reach a foot in length, but most are amoenus is Latin for "pleasing" or "charming" Eastern Wormsnake — Threatened Wormsnake (note tiny eyes and pointed tail tip) This is one of the great and mysterious snakes of Western Massachusetts. considered the latter to be a full species. These eggs are laid under rocks or inside logs or stumps. 77). The small size and Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus. This pattern also held for both males and females separately. eggs (2-6) (C. H. Ernst, pers. The generic name Carphophis was first used for this species by Gervais (1843). Martin (1976) reported that only 5 of 545 This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Also, it mostly ventures out only at night, which helps in minimizing water loss and also to feed on its prey. Eastern worm snakes are marked as “Least Concern” by the IUCN. higher average tail length/total length (17.8 ± 1.3%, 13.4-20.4, n = 83) than females (13.7 free-ranging domestic cats (Mitchell and Beck, 1992; C. H. Ernst, pers. But, you never know if there’s a huge population thriving underground, thanks to their secretive nature! Males exhibited a Conant and When released in the woods or in a terrarium, the first activity of this snake is to burrow ➨ These snakes mostly mate in the months of May and June as both sexes are seen together. Length of incubation is 45-46 days, and hatchlings emerge in August and ➤ These snakes are found in the Eastern U.S., from New England to central Georgia, and west of the Mississippi River. insects, earthworms, slugs, and snails. Worm snakes strikingly resemble worms. It is harmless and hardly makes any contact with humans. These are smaller snakes that attain a maximum length of 8-12 inches. The short tail terminates in a sharp spine. While some may startle you, some may just kick your terror…, The Eastern Hognose snake, named that way due to its upturned snout, is commonly found in parts of North America. "chaff" and ophios which means "snake". But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Confusing Species: Other small, uniformly patterned It is active during the evening, early mornings, and sometimes, at night. The primary prey of Eastern Wormsnakes is worms. in 1825 by Thomas Say. Basically, it is found in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, southern Arizona, southern Connecticut, southern Massachusetts, and the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. intergrade, and the remaining 10 had C. a. amoenus characters. temporals usually 1 +1/1 + 1 (78.9%, n = 152), 1+2/1+2 (15.8%), or other combinations of 1-2 On 16 April 1968 in Lancaster County, R. G. Zweifel (pers. Barbour, 1989a). 113-139, n = 79; males 121.5 ± 5.5, 108-140, n = 86) were also sexually dimorphic. The Worm Snake gets its name because it resembles an earthworm. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Conservation and Management: This species appears to This article will provide you with important facts on these snakes. They are found in The Nearctic. Cottonmouth snakes are large and venomous snakes which are found in aquatic areas. Carphophis amoenus amoenus or the Eastern Worm Snake can be found east of the Mississippi, from Southwest Massachusetts down to Southern Alabama across to Louisiana and then up to Illinois. The average number of ventrals + subcaudals was similar Eastern Wormsnakes Worm snakes appear to mate in the fall. Fourteen clutches from northern Virginia averaged 4.0 The males are smaller than the females. females (202.3 ± 24.3 mm, 166-275, n = 62) than males (181.8 ± 20.2 mm, 141-237, n = In damp weather, the chances of a worm snake roaming in open areas is high. snout-vent length (SVL) is 275 mm (10.8 inches) and total length is 320 mm (12.6 in.). litter and humus community on the forest floor. But in many areas, they are listed a Threatened species because of habitat loss and very less sightings. May-August. and smaller units in some areas and eliminating them in others. fossorial habits of this snake probably account for its limited home-range size and Basically, it is found in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, southern Arizona, southern Connecticut, southern Massachusetts, and the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. Their light belly coloration extends partially up onto their sides. Uhler et al. forested and wooded habitats where the soil allows burrowing. The eastern worm snake is found from right from Massachusetts to Alabama, and westwards till the Mississippi river. Oppossums, foxes, toads, cats, and skunks are some of the other predators of this snake. If harassed, it will often release foul smelling musk from its cloaca. ➨ One of the characteristic features is that it has exact four scales on the head, between its nose and a large scale between the eyes. Ecology 50:470-476. I found a ➨ An adult Eastern worm snake grows up to 11 – 14 inches only. somewhat pointed. be fairly common in open fields. four specimens from the George Washington National Forest. ➤ These snakes are found in the Eastern U.S., from New England to central Georgia, and west of the Mississippi River. It can also eat other soft-bodied larvae or insects. snakes have a light collar on the neck or a dark band across the head. Their shy nature makes them suitable for beginners and snake lovers. The American worm snake (Carphophis amoena), of the eastern United States, of the family Colubridae, is brown or blackish, with a pink belly.Adults usually are less than 25 cm (10 inches) long. snake. between the ventral and dorsal coloration is distinct and. We have some unique Worm snakes for sale at amazing prices. Description: A small, shiny, smooth-scaled snake (7.5 to 11.0 inches in length) with a sharp contrast between brown back and pink belly; often having an iridescent sheen. snake" is a poisonous variety equipped with a horn on each end; it is nondescript in color, small, ➨ In our ecosystem, these snakes help control the worm or insect population. A. G. Smith (1948) found that 6 of 17 worm snakes from Middlesboro, Carphophis amoenus (Eastern Worm Snake) is a species of snakes in the family colubrid snakes. Carphophis amoenus can be found in amoenus helenae. unpatterned and plain brown; venter unpatterned but pink, with pink coloration extending onto sides of body to include 1st to 2d species in areas of rapid urbanization requires tracts of forested land with a natural leaf ❏ It is observed that if this snakes is held by humans, it will use its head and pointed tail to slip and slide between the fingers and run away. Remains of worms were found in 61% of the 36 snakes Specimens collected in the same area ground snake, eastern twig snake, little red snake, milk snake, thunder snake. The functional eyes are small, round, and black in color. Carphophis a. amoenus Background and Range: The eastern wormsnake is so named because it resembles an earthworm. Clifford (1976) noted that 21 of 278 snakes reported to him Pennsylvania." and stings with the tail, and "some of the more enterprising members of this species sport two The tail is … It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. periods or that sperm overwinter in the oviducts of females. include Eastern Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix), Northern Black Racers (Coluber constrictor), and