Pine Woods Snake
Rhadinaea flavilata • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Rhadinaea, Species: Rhadinaea flavilata
Southeastern United States; found in a disjunct coastal strip from eastern North Carolina, through South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, west to extreme eastern Louisiana.
Look up Pine Woods Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Mildly venomous (rear-fanged/opisthoglyphous); not considered dangerous to humans.
Danger Level
Harmless; they are small, secretive, and rarely bite. Even if a bite occurs, the reaction is typically localized and negligible.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Rhadinaea, Species: Rhadinaea flavilata
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN), though they are considered rare or cryptic in many parts of their range due to habitat loss and drainage of wetlands.
Physical Description
A small, slender snake with smooth scales. Coloration is typically reddish-brown, tan, or orange-brown with an iridescent sheen. A dark stripe usually passes through the eye, and the belly is pale yellow or white. The head is slightly wider than the neck.
Size & Dimensions
Adults typically range from 10 to 13 inches (25–33 cm). The specimen in the image appears to be an adult, approximately 11 inches in length.
Habitat
Primarily pine flatwoods, damp pine forests, and maritime forests. Found under rotting logs, bark, and leaf litter. Prefers damp, acidic soil and sandy ridges near wetlands.
Behavior & Temperament
Secretive, fossorial (burrowing), and primarily crepuscular or nocturnal. They are very docile and will rarely attempt to bite when handled, instead trying to hide or wriggle away.
Diet & Feeding
Specializes in small cold-blooded prey including frogs (especially cricket frogs), salamanders, and small lizards. They utilize active foraging and mild venom to incapacitate prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay small clutches of 1 to 4 eggs during the summer months. Hatchlings emerge in late summer or early autumn.
Venom Profile
Mildly toxic saliva used to subdue small prey. Non-medically significant to humans.
Look-alikes
Often confused with the Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi), which has keeled scales and different facial markings, or the Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata), which has a bright red belly and keeled scales.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN), though they are considered rare or cryptic in many parts of their range due to habitat loss and drainage of wetlands.
Cultural Significance
Mostly overlooked due to its secretive nature; however, it serves as an indicator species for the health of longleaf pine ecosystems and helps control amphibian populations.
Notable Features
Features a distinct iridescence on the scales when exposed to light and a dark 'masking' stripe through the eye that is characteristic of the genus.