Smooth Earth Snake

Range

Ozark Plateau, Ouachita Mountains and Coastal Plain. Absent from Crowley's Ridge and Mississippi Delta.

Description

Smooth or weakly keeled scales. A plaincolored snake, body is brown, gray or red-brown. Belly is white, cream-colored or light yellow. Young resemble adults. Adults 7-10 inches in length.

Habitat and Habits

This small snake is active from April-October in moist forests with ample rocks, logs or leaf litter to hide under. It breeds in spring or fall and gives live birth in late summer to 2-14 young. Like many other small woodland snakes, it eats earthworms, slugs and softbodied insects. Much of this snake's former habitat has been converted to other uses for human activities.