Carphophis vermis
| Western worm snake | |
|---|---|
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| Carphophis vermis in Arkansas, USA | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Carphophis |
| Species: | C. vermis
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| Binomial name | |
| Carphophis vermis (Kennicott, 1859)
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| Synonyms | |
Carphophis vermis (common name western worm snake)[5] is a species of small, nonvenomous colubrid snake native to the United States.
Etymology
The specific name, vermis, is Latin for "worm".[6]
Physical description
The western worm snake has a dark,
Adults are usually from 19–28 cm (7.5–11 in) in total length (including tail); however, the maximum recorded total length is 37.5 cm (14.8 in).[8]
Geographic range
The western worm snake is found in the United States in southern Iowa, southeastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, western Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma, and northeastern Texas with isolated records from southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Arkansas and middle Tennessee.[4]
Behavior
C. vermis is
Reproduction
Little is known about the mating habits of the western worm snake, but breeding likely occurs in the early spring.
Diet
The western worm snake's diet consists almost entirely of earthworms,[9] but it will also consume soft-bodied insects.
Defense
If harassed, C. vermis will often release foul smelling musk from its cloaca. If handled, it may press its tail tip into the captor's hand as a defense mechanism.
References
- Stejneger, L., and T. Barbour(1917). A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (Carphophis vermis, p. 74).
- ^ Conant, R., and W. Bridges (1939). What Snake Is That? A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains. (with 108 drawings by E. Malnate). New York and London: D. Appleton-Century. Frontispiece map + viii + 163 pp. + Plates A-C, 1-32. (Carphophis amoena vermis, p. 32 + Plate 2, Figure 5).
- ^ Wright, A.H., and A.A. Wright (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, A Division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in two volumes) (Carphophis amoenus vermis, pp. 110-112, Figure 35 + Map 12 on p. 105).
- ^ a b Species Carphophis vermis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ "Bio.utexas.edu".
- ISBN 0-87779-809-5. ("worm", p. 1444).
- ISBN 0-307-13666-3. (Carphophis amoenus vermis, pp. 162-163).
- ISBN 0-395-19977-8(paperback). (Carphophis amoenus vermis, p. 175 + Plate 25 + Map 131).
- ^ a b Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Carphophis amoena vermis, pp. 102-104, Figure 20).
Further reading
- ISBN 0-394-50824-6. (Carphophis amoenus vermis, p. 592 + Plate 493).
- Kennicott, R. (1859). "Notes on Coluber calligaster of Say, and a description of new species of Serpents in the collection of the North Western University of Evanston, Ill[inois]". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia [11]: 98–100. (Celuta vermis, new species, pp. 99–100).
- ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Carphophis vermis, pp. 402–403, Figure 187 + Plate 38).
External links
- "Carphophis vermis" at the Encyclopedia of Life
- Western Worm Snake, Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa
