Smooth Earthsnake
Subspecies occurring in Louisiana is the Western Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae elegans)
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Scientific Name:
Virginia valeriae Terrestrial
Native
Snakes
Nonvenomous
Description
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.