Kenneth L. Krysko photo.

Scientific name: Stilosoma extenuatum

Description: Adults average 14-20 inches (36-51 cm) in size. The record is 25.75 inches (65.4 cm). An extremely slender gray snake with a blotched or spotted pattern. The 50-80 dark brown to black spots down the middle of the back alternate with dark spots on the sides. The light colored spaces between the black spots on the back often have an orange center giving the impression of an indistinct orange stripe running down the back. The belly is white with dark blotches. The blunt head is very small and roughly the same diameter as the body, and the crown is dark brown or black. The tail is short, comprising no more than 10% of the snake's total length. There are 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody, and the scales are smooth. The pupils are round. The juveniles are likely similar to the adults.

Short-tailed snake: Left to right: Top of the head; underside of the head (chin and throat).

Short-tailed snake: Left to right: Side of the head; front (face view) of the head.

Range: The short-tailed snake occurs throughout much of upland northcentral Florida, west of the St. Johns River.

Habitat: The short-tailed snake is restricted to upland pine-turkey oak woodlands and dry, sandy soiled habitats such as coastal live oak hammocks and sand pine scrub.

Comments: . Endemic to Florida, this species is considered rare because it is restricted to limited habitats. It is listed as 'Threatened' by the State of Florida due to development of these upland habitat areas. A burrowing species, it is seldom seen above ground. It is thought to feed exclusively, or nearly so, on the Florida crowned snake (Tantilla relicta). Small smooth-scaled lizards such as the ground skink (Scincella lateralis) may also be eaten. It lays eggs, most likely underground.

Comparison with other species: The corn snake (Elaphe guttata) has reddish-orange blotches and a belly with a black and white checkerboard pattern. The mole kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster) has a light Y-shaped pattern on the back of the head and neck, a clouded brownish belly, and reddish-brown blotches on the body. Juvenile racers (Coluber constrictor) and eastern coachwhips (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) have heads larger than their necks and large eyes. Juvenile rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta) also have larger heads and stocky bodies.

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