Pine Woods Snake
Rhadinaea flavilata • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Rhadinaea, Species: Rhadinaea flavilata
Southeastern United States, coastal plain from North Carolina through Florida and west to extreme eastern Louisiana.
Look up Pine Woods Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Mildly venomous (opisthoglyphous / rear-fanged).
Danger Level
Harmless / Low Risk. Bites are rare, and the venom delivery system is inefficient for larger mammals; local irritation may occur but no serious symptoms.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Rhadinaea, Species: Rhadinaea flavilata
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN), though localized populations face threats from habitat loss due to coastal development and fire suppression.
Physical Description
Small, slender snake with smooth scales. Reddish-brown to golden-brown dorsal coloration. A dark line runs through the eye. The belly is typically yellowish or white. Head is slightly wider than the neck.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen appears to be an adult around 10-12 inches; the species typically ranges from 10 to 13 inches (max recorded approx. 15.5 inches).
Habitat
Pine flatwoods, maritime forests, and damp areas under logs or debris. Prefers moist conditions and fossorial environments within leaf litter.
Behavior & Temperament
Secretive, fossorial (burrowing), and primarily nocturnal or crepuscular. Generally docile and rarely attempts to bite even when handled.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on small amphibians (frogs and salamanders) and small lizards. An active searcher that uses its mild venom to help subdue prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous (lays eggs). Clutch size is typically small, ranging from 1 to 4 eggs, laid in early summer.
Venom Profile
Mildly toxic saliva used to subdue small prey; not considered medically significant to humans.
Look-alikes
Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) has keeled scales; Florida Brown Snake (Storeria victa) has different markings; Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) has a distinct neck ring.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN), though localized populations face threats from habitat loss due to coastal development and fire suppression.
Cultural Significance
Understudied and rarely seen by the public due to its secretive nature; plays an important role in the food web of southeastern pine ecosystems.
Notable Features
Often referred to as the 'Yellow-lipped Snake' due to the pale coloration of the upper labial scales. It is one of the few species in its genus found in the United States.