Western Worm Snake
Carphophis vermis • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Carphophis, Species: C. vermis
Natural to the central United States, primarily from Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois south through Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and northeastern Texas and Louisiana.
Look up Western Worm Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Dipsadinae, Genus: Carphophis, Species: C. vermis
Conservation
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Major threats include habitat destruction and significant shifts in soil moisture/quality due to agriculture or urban development.
Physical Description
Smooth, glossy scales with a bi-colored appearance. The dorsal (top) color ranges from dark purple-grey to black, while the ventral (belly) color is a distinct pink or salmon color that extends up the lower rows of side scales. The head is small and not distinct from the neck, adapted for burrowing.
Size & Dimensions
Typical adult length is 19-28 cm (7.5-11 inches). The specimen in the image appears to be an adult of typical size for the species.
Habitat
Fossorial (burrowing) species found in moist rocky hillsides, oak-hickory woodlands, and forest edges. They are typically found under rocks, logs, or leaf litter where soil moisture is high.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized diet consisting almost entirely of earthworms. They are active foragers that search through soil and leaf litter for prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay small clutches of 1-5 eggs in early summer, which hatch in late summer. Little is known about their specific breeding cycles due to their secretive nature.
Look-alikes
Eastern Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus), which has the pink belly color extending less high onto the sides; Earth Snakes (Virginia spp.), which are generally more brownish-tan and have different scale counts.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Major threats include habitat destruction and significant shifts in soil moisture/quality due to agriculture or urban development.
Cultural Significance
Highly beneficial to ecosystems as indicators of soil health and as predators of soil invertebrates. They are often encountered by gardeners and used in educational settings to demonstrate non-threatening snake species.
Notable Features
The tail ends in a sharp, spike-like scale (terminal spine) used as a pivot point when burrowing or as a harmless defensive probe. Their coloration and smooth texture give them an earthworm-like appearance, which is the source of their common name.