Eastern Worm Snake
Carphophis amoenus
A tiny, glossy, worm-like burrowing snake with a pink belly, rarely seen above ground.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 18-28 cm (7-11 in)
- Range
- Eastern United States, from the Northeast south through the Appalachians to the Gulf Coast
Found a snake like this?
Identify any snake from a photo, free.
Overview
The Eastern Worm Snake is a diminutive fossorial colubrid found throughout much of the eastern United States. Its smooth, shiny body and small size give it a strong resemblance to an earthworm, which aids its burrowing lifestyle.
It is almost never encountered in the open, spending nearly all of its life underground or beneath surface cover in moist woodland soils.
How to identify it
- Small, glossy, cylindrical body, uniform brown to blackish above
- Belly is bright pink to reddish, contrasting sharply with the dorsal color
- Small, pointed head barely distinct from the neck; tiny eyes
- Smooth scales; a short, pointed tail spine
- Distinguished from earthworms by scaled skin and a distinct head, though superficially very similar at a glance
Habitat & range
Inhabits moist deciduous forests, favoring loose soil, leaf litter, and rotting logs where it can burrow easily. Often found under flat rocks or logs in wooded hillsides and ravines.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Almost entirely fossorial and rarely seen on the surface except after rain or when cover objects are disturbed. Feeds primarily on earthworms. Lays a small clutch of eggs in early to mid-summer, often under communal cover objects.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Eastern Worm Snake venomous?
No, it is completely non-venomous and harmless.
Why does it look like an earthworm?
Its small size, smooth glossy scales, and burrowing lifestyle give it a superficial resemblance to a large earthworm.
What does it eat?
It feeds almost exclusively on earthworms, which it finds while burrowing through soil.
Where can it be found?
Under rocks, logs, and leaf litter in moist eastern woodlands, rarely visible above ground.
Eastern Worm Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Eastern Worm Snake.
Eastern Worm Snake identified by the community
Real snakes identified with Snake Identifier.
