Western Wormsnake
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Scientific Name:
Carphophis vermis Terrestrial
Native
Snakes
Nonvenomous
Description
A small snake- 8 to 14 inches long. Black above, pink or scarlet-colored below and up to the third scale row. Tiny eyes. Scales are smooth and in 13 rows. Small, harmless spine on the tip of the tail.
Range and Habitat
Found in wooded bluff lands between Mer Rouge and Wisner (Macon Ridge), now almost completely deforested. There is an old record near Gayle, but this snake has not been seen in Louisiana since the 1960s.
Behavior
Lay 1 to 6 eggs. Feeds primarily on earthworms. Burrows in loose soil and leaf litter in deciduous forest, occasionally concealing themselves beneath logs.
Population Status
Ranked as S1 (critically imperiled) in Louisiana. Threats include reduced habitat from agricultural development.