Smooth Earthsnake
Virginia valeriae
A small, plain-colored, smooth-scaled snake found under forest debris across a broad swath of the eastern U.S.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 18-25 cm (7-10 in)
- Range
- Eastern and central United States
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Overview
The Smooth Earthsnake is a small, secretive colubrid widely distributed across the eastern and central United States. It closely resembles the Rough Earthsnake but is distinguished by its smooth scales.
Like other earthsnakes, it lives largely out of sight, favoring the soil and leaf litter of forests and woodland edges where it hunts for small invertebrates.
How to identify it
- Small, slender body, uniform gray to brown above, occasionally with faint speckling
- Pale, unmarked belly
- Smooth scales, giving a glossier texture than the Rough Earthsnake
- Small head with a rounded snout and small eyes
- Distinguished from the Rough Earthsnake by smooth (non-keeled) scales and a less pointed snout
Habitat & range
Found in deciduous forests, woodland edges, and areas with loose, well-drained soil and abundant leaf litter or ground cover, including some suburban settings.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Secretive and fossorial, remaining hidden under logs, bark, and leaf litter during the day. Feeds mainly on earthworms and soft-bodied insect larvae. Gives birth to live young in late summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Smooth Earthsnake venomous?
No, it is completely harmless to humans.
How can I distinguish it from the Rough Earthsnake?
Its scales are smooth rather than keeled, giving it a glossier look, and its snout is less pointed.
What does it eat?
Earthworms and small soft-bodied invertebrates make up its diet.
Where does it live?
In moist forest soil and leaf litter across the eastern and central United States.
Smooth Earthsnake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Smooth Earthsnake.
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