Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I saw the message down below about Lined Snakes and finally had time to add to it. For several years now I've been doing field research on the very northern most populations of these tiny things. Here's a pic of the most recent find from a couple weeks ago:

Lined Snakes are found in the very SW corner of Minnesota and in the SE corner of South Dakota...along the rolling prairie blufflands of the Big Sioux River valley. Here's a pic of it's pointy little head:

Here's a photo of it's most distinguishing feature...a series of double "half moons" running down the center of the belly.

Lined Snakes are currently listed as a "state endangered species" in South Dakota. From 1937 until 2002...only 3 of them had been found. Since then I have located about 20 total! They are an extremely elusive creature up here...but can be found mostly in October when they migrate across roads seeking hibernation sites. Lined Snakes have no "official protected" status in Minnesota because that entire population is found only within the boundaries of Blue Mound State Park where everything is protected anyway. If anyone else is doing research on these things at the very edge of their range...I'd like to hear about it. Hope you like the pics! TJ.

Very cool,

Thanks for the reply and the pictures. I'm curious what you are researching about them - is this a general survey? Is there a particular aspect of their physiology or natural history you are trying to figure out? Any findings at this point?

This is fun stuff to wonder out loud about something and just like that find someone doing research.

Thanks again,
Billy