Earth Snakes
Virginia, striatula and valeriae

Family: Natricidae - Harmless Live-Bearing Snakes Typical Adult Size: 7 to 10 inches Reproduction: live bearing Eye Pupil: round Dorsal Scales: striatula - keeled; valeriae - smooth or weakly keeled Anal Scale: usually divided

SC Range Map: striatula SC Range Map: valeriae Additional Images

Earth Snakes are small, secretive snakes that are brown, gray or reddish colored on their backs and have essentially no patterning. Adult length is usually in the range of 7 to 10 inches. They give live birth.

There are 2 species in their genus: Smooth Earth Snake and Rough Earth Snake. The most obvious difference between the species is seen in the dorsal (back) scales. Smooth Earth Snakes have smooth or weakly keeled scales. Rough Earth Snakes have keeled scales. Smooth Earth Snakes may be found throughout South Carolina. Rough Earth Snakes may be found in most of South Carolina, except for the upper Piedmont and Mountains. They may occur more abundantly in localize areas.

Earth Snakes usually hide in leaf litter and loose soil, and under rocks. They feed on earthworms, soft-bodied insects and insect larva.

My personal experience has been that Earth Snakes are the snake species which cats most often kill and leave as trophies on the walk or patio.