Sunday, April 04, 2010

Rough Earth Snake (Virginia striatula)

Yesterday, while checking out some seepage bogs on Eglin with Kelly, I found a Rough Earth Snake within a decaying log.

A nice bonus in finding this snake, is that it represents an Walton County record.
I really like the snake's coloration. In some lights it can look black, other times it can look very rosy.
This gives some perspective on size for this diminutive snake.
It can be distinguished from the Smooth Earth Snake by the keeled scales, 5 upper labial scales, and an undivided postocular scale.

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