Squamata      suborder Serpentes Carphophis amoenus -- Eastern Wormsnake

Search for another IL amphibian or reptile Search for IL amphibians & reptiles by county Go to the INHS Amphibian & Reptile Collection homepage Search the INHS collections data for amphibians & reptiles Search the INHS Type Specimen Data for amphibians & reptiles	Purple shade indicates vouchered specimens. Light blue (cyan) shade indicates photographic records. Yellow shade indicates verified sighting. Slanted hatch indicates pre-1980 records only NOTE: Not all specimens upon which these maps are based have been verified.
	Key Characters: Pointed head; spine-like tail tip; smooth dorsal scales; divided anal plate. Similar Species: Smooth earth snake, brown snake, redbelly snake. Subspecies: Midwest worm snake, C. a. helenae; western worm snake, C. a. vermis. Description: A small (up to 35 cm TL) wormlike burrowing snake with a brown back and pink belly. The pink color extends onto the first scale row. The two colors are more sharply contrasting in juveniles. Habitat: Wooded areas, usually those with rocky soils. Natural History: Most mating probably occurs in the fall with eggs laid the following June. Clutch size is normally 2-5 eggs and hatching takes place in August or September. Hatchlings range in size from 7 to 12 cm TL. Worm snakes feed almost entirely on earthworms. The main predators are other snakes. Status: Locally abundant (see distribution map, above).
	©Illinois Natural History Survey Send Questions and Comments to:cbdadmin@inhs.uiuc.edu. Last updated Friday, 23-Jul-2004 16:38:43 CDT