The worm snake is covered with smooth scales, which give it a shiny, iridescent appearance. The back surface is brown or black, while the belly surface is translucent pink. It is a small snake ranging from 7 to 12 inches in length. They rarely bite but do produce a pungent odor from their anal glands.Photo Courtesy of Montgomery County Government.Ĭharacteristics: The Eastern Worm Snake looks like an earthworm. In hand, worm snakes will use their heads and hard pointed tails to probe, as if burrowing, for an escape route. ![]() ![]() During the summer, they burrow deep into the ground or seek shelter under rocks or in rotting stumps or logs, and remain inactive until conditions improve. Worm snakes are intolerant of dry conditions and often disappear from areas that have been cleared of vegetation. Rarely seen in the open, worm snakes may be found under rocks and logs, but are often underground. They feed almost exclusively on earthworms, although other small slender prey such as salamanders, fly larvae and slugs are occasionally taken. Moist woodlands with either sandy or rocky soils provide the best habitat. In Massachusetts, worm snakes have been found only in the southern Connecticut Valley where they prefer areas with sandy soil. Eggs laid in June and early July generally hatch in August and September. A typical clutch consists of 2-5 small eggs. Eggs are deposited under rocks or inside mulch piles, rotting logs or stumps. Females store the sperm over winter and use it to fertilize eggs in the spring or early summer. Smooth scales give it a shiny, iridescent quality, and readily distinguish it from brown and redbelly snakes that have keeled scales. ![]() The worm snake is an unpatterned brown snake with a pink belly, pointed head and small eyes. This small burrowing snake shares a superficial resemblance to an earthworm.
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