Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Virginia striatula Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Colubridae Higher classification Virginia | |
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Similar Virginia, Snake, Virginia valeriae, Reptile, Southeastern crown snake | ||
Rough Earthsnakes (Haldea striatula, formerly Virginia striatula) are nonvenomous natricine colubrid snakes native to the southeastern United States. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766, as Coluber striatulus. The genus name was changed from Virginia to Haldea in 2013.
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Geographic range
Rough Earthsnakes are found from southern Virginia to northern Florida, west along the Gulf Coast to southern Texas, and north into south-central Missouri and southeastern Kansas.
Description
Rough Earthsnakes are small, harmless, secretive, fairly slender snakes, 7-10 inches (18–25 cm) in length. They have round pupils, weakly keeled dorsal scales, and usually a divided anal plate. Rough Earthsnakes are brown, gray or reddish colored on their backs and essentially have no patterning. Females are a little longer and heavier than males, with relatively shorter tails. Young individuals often have a light band on the neck, which is normally lost as they mature. The belly is tan to whitish and is not sharply defined in color from the back (unlike in Wormsnakes (Carphophis amoenus) or Red-bellied Snakes (Storeria occipitomaculata). Keeled scales differentiate Rough Earthsnakes from similar Smooth Earthsnakes (Virginia valeriae), as well as from Wormsnakes. The species it is most likely to be confused with is Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi), which is a little larger and is light brown with dark markings on the back and neck. Unlike Rough Earthsnakes, Dekay's Brownsnakes retain these markings into adulthood. They also have much rounder snouts than Rough Earthsnakes.
Habitat
Rough Earthsnakes are fossorial, hiding beneath logs, rocks, or ornamental stones, in leaf litter, or in compost piles and gardens. The species is found in a variety of forested habitats with plenty of ground cover, as well as in many urban areas. They can reach very high densities in very urban gardens, parks, and vacant lots.
Reproduction
Rough Earthsnakes are viviparous, giving birth to 3 to 8 live young in mid-summer. Newborns are about 10 cm (4 inches) in total length. The young somewhat resemble Ring-necked Snakes (Diadophis punctatus) with their light-colored neck collar, but they are much drabber and lack a brightly-colored belly.
Many sources refer to snakes that give birth to live young as either ovoviviparous or viviparous. In reality, the distinction between these two terms is not very sharp, and the diversity of reproductive modes is better thought of as a spectrum or continuum between matrotrophy (embryonic nutrients come directly from the mother) and lecithotrophy (embryonic nutrients come mostly or completely from egg yolk). Viviparity is the most extreme form of matrotrophy, whereas oviparity is the most extreme form of lecithotrophy.
Behavior
Rough Earthsnakes are generally not aggressive towards humans, are not venomous, and are harmless if encountered. Although they have teeth, Rough Earthsnakes normally do not bite. Their response when harassed is to remain motionless, or to try to escape. They will defecate and excrete a stinky musk as a defense mechanism to make themselves less palatable to would-be predators. If necessary, Rough Earthsnakes can be safely picked up by hand and relocated.
Diet
Rough Earthsnakes eat invertebrates. They feed almost exclusively on earthworms, although slugs, snails, sow bugs, insect eggs and larvae have also been found in their stomachs. They are not venomous and do not constrict their prey; rather, they swallow their prey without subduing it. The pointed snout of Rough Earthsnakes helps them burrow in moist soil where their prey are found.