Subphylum Vertebrata Scientific name Storeria Order Scaled reptiles | ||
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Lower classifications Storeria occipitomaculata, Texas brown snake | ||
Northern brown snake storeria dekayi
Storeria is a genus of colubrid snakes, endemic to North America and Central America. The genus consists of four species, three of which are known as brown snakes, and the other of which is known as the redbelly snake.
Contents
- Northern brown snake storeria dekayi
- Storeria dekayi northern brown snake
- Geographic range
- Etymology
- Description
- Ecology
- Species
- References
Storeria dekayi northern brown snake
Geographic range
Species in the genus Storeria are found in the eastern half of the United States and southern Canada and range south through Mexico and northern Central America.
Etymology
The genus is named in honor of American physician and naturalist David Humphreys Storer (1804–1891).
Description
As their common name implies, most snakes of the genus Storeria are a variant of brown in color. The brown can vary depending on locale, to be almost a brick red in color, to nearly black. They sometimes have a lighter colored stripe down the center of the back, and small black blotches along the body, and just behind the head. Their underside is usually lighter brown colored, yellow, or in the case of redbelly snakes, reddish in color. They rarely grow beyond 12 inches in length. One of the best means of identification is by its scales. Snakes in the genus Storeria have keeled scales. The head has no loreal scale, and the postnasal scale touches the preocular scale. So, only two scales are between the nasal opening and the eye.
Ecology
Within their range, brown snakes are a very commonly found species of snake. They are most frequently found under leaf litter or debris piles, and are sometimes turned up during gardening. They consume a variety of invertebrate prey, including, earthworms, snails and slugs. Their only means of defense are flattening of the body and excretion from the anal scent glands. Brown snakes give birth to live young.
Species
