Texas brown snake

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Texas brown snake
Storeria dekayi texana.jpg
Texas brown snake
Storeria dekayi texana
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Storeria
Species:
Subspecies:
S. d. texana
Trinomial name
Storeria dekayi texana
Trapido, 1944

The Texas brown snake(Storeria dekayi texana), a subspecies of Storeria dekayi , is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is endemic to North America. [1]

Contents

Geographic range

It is found from southern Minnesota to eastern Texas and northeastern Mexico. [2]

Description

Adults and young have reddish brown colored bodies with dark brown spots around the eyes. These occipital blotches are wider than in other subspecies of S. dekayi, and the fourth upper labial is usually darkened to a greater extent. S. d. texana also differs from the other subspecies by not having the anterior temporal shield marked with a black vertical bar or horizontal stripe. Adults average 30.5 cm (12.0 in) in total length, but may reach 48.3 cm (19.0 in). [3]

Habitat

They can be found in moist woodlands under logs and bark. In urban areas they are often found in gardens and flower beds, and also under old pieces of roofing or linoleum in backyards and vacant lots. [4]

Diet

They feed primarily on slugs and earthworms, but also eat insects, spiders, and cricket frogs (genus Acris ). [3]

Reproduction

Storeria dekayi texana is ovoviviparous. Females bear live young in August and early September. Each young emerges in a fine tissue sac, which after bursting remains attached to the ventrum, but is quickly shed. Brood size varies from 3 to 15. The newborns measure 9–11.5 cm (3+124+12 in) in total length. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Rena dulcis</i> Species of snake

Rena dulcis, also known commonly as the Texas blind snake, the Texas slender blind snake, or the Texas threadsnake, is a species of snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is endemic to the Southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico. Three subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Tropidoclonion</i> Genus of snakes

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Long-nosed snake Species of snake

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<i>Pituophis catenifer affinis</i> Subspecies of snake

Pituophis catenifer affinis, commonly known as the Sonoran gopher snake, is a nonvenomous subspecies of colubrid that is endemic to the southwestern United States. It is one of six recognized subspecies of the gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer.

Trans-Pecos rat snake Species of snake

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<i>Storeria</i> Genus of snakes

Storeria is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to North America and Central America. The genus consists of five species, four of which are known as brown snakes, and the other of which is known as the redbelly snake.

Eastern racer Species of snake

The eastern racer is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America and Central America. Eleven subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, are recognized, which as a group are commonly referred to as the eastern racers. The species is monotypic in the genus Coluber.

<i>Nerodia rhombifer</i> Species of snake

Nerodia rhombifer, commonly known as the diamondback water snake, is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid endemic to the central United States and northern Mexico. There are three recognized subspecies of N. rhombifer, including the nominotypical subspecies.

<i>Hypsiglena jani</i> Species of snake

Hypsiglena jani, commonly known as the Texas night snake or the Chihuahuan night snake, is a small species of mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico.

Smooth earth snake Species of snake

The smooth earth snake is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid snake native to the eastern half of the United States.

<i>Haldea</i> Species of snake

Haldea striatula, commonly called the rough earth snake, is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid snake native to the Southeastern United States.

<i>Nerodia clarkii</i> Species of snake

Nerodia clarkii, commonly known as the salt marsh snake, is a species of semiaquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake found in the southeastern United States, in the brackish salt marshes along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, with a population in northern Cuba.

DeKays brown snake Species of snake

Storeria dekayi, commonly known as De Kay's brown snake, De Kay's snake, and simply the brown snake, is a small non-venomous species of snake in the family Colubridae.

<i>Sistrurus miliarius barbouri</i> Subspecies of snake

Sistrurus miliarius barbouri is a venomous pit viper subspecies endemic to the southeastern United States.

<i>Regina grahamii</i> Species of snake

Regina grahamii, commonly known as Graham's crayfish snake, is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the central United States.

Crayfish snake Species of snake

The crayfish snake, also known commonly as the glossy crayfish snake, the glossy swampsnake, the glossy water snake, and the striped water snake, is a species of semiaquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, and preys mainly on crayfish.

Northern redbelly snake Subspecies of snake

The northern redbelly snake is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae, a subspecies of Storeria occipitomaculata. It is sometimes referred to as a fire snake. It is endemic, North America and The Caribbean in some parts in Jamaica, and Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia in the north and south to Florida and Texas.

<i>Thamnophis proximus</i> Species of snake

Thamnophis proximus, commonly known as the western ribbon snake, is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the western United States, Mexico, and Central America. The species has six recognized subspecies.

Common watersnake Species of snake

The common watersnake is a species of large, nonvenomous, common snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America. It is frequently mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth.

<i>Carphophis amoenus</i> Species of snake

Carphophis amoenus, commonly known as the worm snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid endemic to the eastern United States. C. amoenus can be found east of the Mississippi, from southwest Massachusetts south to southern Alabama west to Louisiana and then north to Illinois. This species of snake protects a large range, and normally prefers a moist habitat in the rocky woodlands, under rotten wood of logs and stumps. Though this snake is quite abundant over its range, it is rarely seen because of its dormant lifestyle and where it usually resides. This snake is most common on the edges or in the ecotonal areas of open to thick woodlands, and the borders of wetlands. It may also be found in the grasslands next to woodlands. The best chance to spot it is after heavy rains, when its small size and distinct color make it easy to spot. This species prefers moist soil inhabited by earthworms, which are its main prey, so the soil needs to be sufficiently moist. The snake's skin naturally evaporates water; so the soil needs to be moist enough to offset this. C. amoenus is mostly found under rocks and in sufficient leaf litter during the extreme daytime heat.

References

  1. Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN   0-307-13666-3.
    (Storeria dekayi texana, pp. 158-159.)
  2. Conant, R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 429 pp.
    ISBN   0-395-19977-8. (Storeria dekayi texana, pp. 154-155, Figure 35. + Map 28.)
  3. 1 2 3 Wright, A.H. and A.A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Comstock. Ithaca and London. 1,105 pp. (in two volumes)
    (Storeria dekayi texana, pp. 704-708, Figure 207., Map 53.)
  4. Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 365 pp. (Storeria dekayi, pp. 227-228 + Plate 25.)

Further reading