Worm Snake, Eastern

Latin name

Carphophis amoenus amoenus

 

Fast facts

  • Adult body length: 8 - 15 inches
  • Body length at hatching: 3 - 4 inches
  • Breeding period: April to May, and September to October
  • Young per year: 1 - 8 eggs
  • Typical foods: earthworms and soft bodied insect

    •  

    Appearance

    The Eastern Worm Snake is a very small, glossy brown-to-black snake that resembles an earthworm. Also, the belly of this snake is bright pink to reddish-pink. The tail is short and it tapers to a sharp tip.

    On top of the head of this snake there are scales between the nose and a large scale that lies between the eyes: the Eastern Worm Snake has four scales in that area, while the closely related Midwest Worm Snake has only two.

    The Eastern Worm Snake is larger than the earthworm-like Brahminy Blind Snake and the Eastern Worm Snake has functional eyes. Also the Brahminy Blind Snake does not live in the wild in Ohio.

    Range

    Overall Range
    The Eastern Worm Snake ranges from southern New England southward through the Carolinas to northern Georgia, and westward to southern Ohio and northeastern Mississippi.

    Range in Ohio
    Both kinds of Worm Snake live in the southern third of Ohio. The Eastern Worm Snake lives in the eastern three-quarters of that area, and its range overlaps that of the Midwest Worm Snake.

    Eastern Worm Snake Ohio Map

    Local Habitat
    The Eastern Worm Snakes live in damp hilly woodlands and in farmland that borders woodland. Also, they live on partially wooded or grassy hillsides above streams. During dry periods they retreat deep underground where the soil is moister.

    Lifestyle

    These are secretive snakes, and except for occasional times during a damp spring, they are almost never seen in the open.