Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How can i tell the difference between a worm snake and an earth snake i am from Geeorgia and i found him searching for earthworms for my garter.

Here is a NC resource-

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Biology/herpcons/Herps_of_NC/snakes/snakes.html

that is pretty darn good!

In short-
Worm snakes have a very small pointy flat head they hold down,and try to burrow with.

Earth shakes have a little more "snakey" head with visible cheeks, and they like to sit or cruise with their heads held up like little periscopes- if you visit that NC website every earth snake pic has the head held off the ground.

Worm snakes are usually very agitated when held, will not settle down and wiggle like worms, try to jab you with the sharp scale on the end of their tails, earth snakes may be agitated but "cruise" forward like most other snakes through your hands.

Finally coloration- Worm snakes have no markings whatsoever. their bellies are usually but not always pink and their backs a brown shade that is highly iridescent. Earth snakes often have a row of dots down their backs or sides or even a faint stripe on their back.

Now- telling a rough earth snake from a smooth one is harder! Sometimes there is a faint "ring" or band around the back of the head of roughs- and roughs have keeled scales, but they are so tiny it is hard to tell the difference without both in front of you.

Harder still to me is separating tiny earth snakes from Dekay's from garters!!! And redbellies, (which I've never found around here but have to be considered)which can be brown and stripey, too- whewww, better bring that field guide along!