Suborder Serpentes Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Subphylum Vertebrata Scientific name Tropidoclonion lineatum Higher classification Tropidoclonion Order Scaled reptiles | |
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Genus TropidoclonionCope, 1860 Similar Regina grahamii, Storeria, Plains Garter Snake, Virginia, Thamnophis proximus | ||
Tropidoclonion lineatum
Tropidoclonion is a genus of small colubrid snakes, commonly known as lined snakes, which are endemic to North America. The single species in the genus, Tropidoclonion lineatum, has four subspecies.
Contents
Subspecies
Etymology
The subspecific name, mertensi, is in honor of German herpetologist Robert Mertens.
Geographic range
Lined snakes are found throughout the central United States from Illinois to Texas. They prefer grassland areas with soft, moist soils.
Description
Lined snakes are olive green to brown with a distinctive tan or yellow stripe down the back from head to tail. They have similar stripes down each side on scale rows 2 and 3. On the belly, they have a double row of clean-cut black half-moon spots running down the middle. They have narrow heads and small eyes.
Adult size is typically less than 35 cm (14 inches) in total length. However, maximum recorded total length is 53 cm (21 in).
The keeled dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows at midbody. There are only 5 or 6 upper labials.
Behavior
Lined snakes are semifossorial, spending most of their time hiding under rocks, leaf litter, logs, or buried in the soil. The majority of their diets consist of earthworms.
Reproduction
They are ovoviviparous, the young being born in August. The average brood is seven or eight. The newborn juveniles are 10–12 cm (4-4¾ in.) long at birth.