Worm snake

A Worm snake, scientifically named as Carphophis amoenus, is usually a small sized snake with tiny eyes, pointed tail tip with smooth and shinny scales. An average worm snake is about 7.5 to 12.5 inches long. The coloring of the dorsum is brown, and of a lighter hue, and is also pinkish in appearance underneath. An adult and the young one have the small coloration. Its appearance is apparently compared to an earthworm.

Range of worm snakes:

American worm snakes (Carphophis) are usually found in the most parts of the United States of America. This includes part of the East Coast, the Mississippi valley and parts of the Pacific coast too. You may yet think of worm snakes being a commonly found being in USA.

Habitats:

A worm snake is usually found close to forested areas and in forested woodlands. In Coastal Plains it is most commonly found in forests near the wetlands and cypress swamps. The habitat of worm snakes is not too different from most other species of snakes, in the sense that they too are found at the same places where you could find a snake.

A moist area with sandy or rocky soil is a preferable habitat for a worm snake. It prefers to live underground and is hardly seen in the open. It preys at night and feeds almost solely on earthworms. But it also preys on fly larvae, salamanders and slugs occasionally. It probably falls prey to many large birds, carnivorous mammals and other bigger snakes such as king snakes and black racers.

Reproduction:

Worm snake probably mates in the fall season. Sperms are stored over the winter, which then are used by females to lay eggs during summers. It can lay up to 8 eggs at a time. But a typical clutch consists of 2-5 small eggs. The eggs are deposited under rocks, rotting logs or in saw dust piles. The eggs are usually hatched in a couple of months. Normally, the months between August and September are considered to be the hatching time for the eggs. The hatchlings are about 100mm long and are usually the same color like their parents, but sometimes even darker.

Worm snake is known not to cause harm to human beings but it has its own defense mechanism against anyone who wishes to capture it.

Some areas follow a conservation policy of worm snakes as they are endangered species. In Massachusetts it is illegal to harass, kill, collect or possess a worm snake.