Virginia striatula
| rough earth snake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Natricinae |
| Genus: | Virginia |
| Species: | V. striatula |
| Binomial name | |
| Virginia striatula (Linnaeus, 1766) | |
| Synonyms | |
The rough earth snake (Virginia striatula) is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid snake native to the southeastern United States. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766, as Coluber striatulus.
Geographic range
It is found from Texas to Florida, and as far north as Missouri, Virginia and Arkansas.
Description
Description: The rough earth snake is a small, harmless, fairly slender snake, 7-10 inches (18–25 cm) in length .
- Pupil: round
- Dorsal Scales: smooth or weakly keeled.
- Anal Scale: usually divided
Rough earth snakes are small, secretive snakes, brown, gray or reddish colored on their backs and essentially have no patterning. The young may have a light band on the neck, which is sometimes lost as the species matures. The belly is tan to whitish and is not sharply defined in color from the dorsum (as in the worm snake), Carphophis amoenus, or (Red bellied snake), Storeria occipitomaculata. Keeled scales differentiate the rough earth snake from the similar smooth earth snake (Virginia valeriae) and worm snake. Another species commonly referred to is the Brown snake Storeria dekayi or De Kay's snake, a small species of colubrid snake which has dark markings on the back and neck and a greenish color on its tail. The (Virginia Striatula) has keeled scales and a pointed snout for moving through soil easily.
Habitat
Habits: (Virginia Striatula) are fossorial (live underground), hiding beneath logs, leaf litter, decaying logs, sun-warmed rocks, or in compost piles and gardens. Range and Habitat ==: This species can be found throughout most of the southern Coastal Plain of the United States, and in Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Florida and southwestern Georgia. The species is found in a variety of forested habitats with plenty of ground cover. The (Virginia Striatula) was first described by Carl Linnaeusin 1766, as Coluber striatulus.
Reproduction
The rough earth snake is viviparous, with (live) 3 to 8 young being born in mid-summer. Newborns are about 10 cm (4 inches) in total length. It breeds during warmer seasons. Some say the young somewhat resemble ring neck snakes with their light colored neck collar, this trait is lost as they become mature.
Ovoviviparity, is a mode of reproduction in animals in which embryos develop inside eggs that are retained within the mother's body until they are ready to hatch. Viviparous animals are similar to Ovoviviparous species in that there is internal fertilization and the young are born (alive), but differ in that there is no placental connection, and the unborn young are nourished by egg yolk. The mother's body does provide gas exchange (sharks and rays). The terms "Ovoviviparity" or "a placental viviparity" have been deprecated because they encompass several unrelated modes of reproduction. In some species, the internally developing embryos rely solely on yolk. This is known as "yolk-sac viviparity" and is regarded as a type of lecithotrophy (no maternal provisioning).
Other species exhibit matrotrophy, in which the embryo exhausts its yolk supply early in gestation and mother provides additional nutrition. This additional provisioning may be in the form of unfertilized eggs (intrauterine oophagy), uterine secretions (histotrophy), or it may be delivered through a placenta.
Behavior
Given the lack of sufficient defense mechanisms against larger animals, rough earth snakes are generally not aggressive towards humans, are not venomous, and are harmless if encountered. Although they have teeth, the rough earth snake has never been known to bite. The response when discovered on the ground is to lie motionless or play possum when disturbed, or to move and squirm to get away. It will defecate as a defense mechanism to make it less palatable to would-be predators. If necessary, it can be safely picked up by hand and relocated.
Diet
Feeding: The diet of such a small snake consists largely of invertebrate prey. They feed almost exclusively on earthworms, though ant larvae may also be taken. The rough earth snake's pointed snout facilitates burrowing in the moist soil where its prey is found. Earthworms were found in the sampled stomachs along with a wider range of menu items that includes slugs, snails, sow bugs, Insecteggs and larvae may be eaten as well. Preferring soft bodied prey, these snakes often seek refuge in the same places as their prey: under logs, stones, and piles of various debris.
References
- Species Virginia striatula at The Reptile Database
External links
- South Carolina Reptiles and Amphibians: Earth Snake
- Snakes of Georgia and South Carolina: Rough Earth Snake
- Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries: Rough Earth Snake