Smooth Earthsnake

illustration of a Smooth Earthsnake
[ Credit: Illustrations by Eugene C. Beckham, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana (Dundee and Rossman) ]

Scientific Name: Virginia valeriae

Terrestrial

Native

Nonvenomous

A small garden snake- 6 to 13 inches long. Gray, tan, brown, or red-brown above with tiny black dots on the head. Pale yellow to white below. May have a faint pale line down the back. Scales are smooth or weakly keeled (ridged) and in 17 rows.

Range and Habitat

Found in wooded or forested areas, especially where there are pines, in the Florida Parishes and upland areas in northern and central Louisiana.

Behavior

Conceal themselves in leaf litter and pulpy logs or under logs and trash. Feed on earthworms, slugs, and soft-bodied insects. Give birth to 3 to 8 young.

Population Status

Populations are considered stable within the state.

 

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