Barry Mansell photo.

Scientific name: Virginia valeriae valeriae

Description: Adults average 7-13 inches (18-33 cm). The record is 15.38 inches (39 cm). A small brown or reddish brown snake with a plain white or yellowish belly. May have tiny dark flecks on back, either scattered or in 4 rows. The head is small with a somewhat pointed snout. There are 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The scales are smooth, though faint keels may be present near the tail. Also, tiny faint lines on some scales may give the appearance of keels. The pupils are round.

Eastern earth snake: Left to right: Top of the head (notice the large plate-like scales on the top of the head);
underside of the head (chin and throat).

Eastern earth snake: Left to right: Side of the head; front (face view) of the head.

Range: In Florida, this species occurs north of the Suwannee River and in the panhandle. A disjunct population occurs in Highlands County in southcentral Florida. Outside the state it ranges north to New Jersey and west Alabama, extreme northeastern Mississippi, and Ohio.

Habitat: Found in the leaf litter and under logs in mesic hammocks and pine woodlands, particularly near marshes and other damp areas. The disjunct southern Florida population also occurs in scrub.

Comments: . Feeds primarily on earthworms, but takes other small invertebrates such as insects and snails. Spends most of the time underground. Seen at the surface most often in the cooler months. The eastern earth snake bears live young. Litters of 7-10 young are born in summer. They are 3-4.5 inches (7.6-11 cm) at birth.

Comparison with other species: The rough earth snake (Virginia striatula) has keeled scales and a more pointed snout. The pine woods snake (Rhadinaea flavilata) has a whitish upper lip. The southern ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) is grayish-black with a distinct neck ring and yellow-orange belly. The brown snakes (Storeria dekayi) have keeled scales.

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