Natricidae
Rough Earthsnake
Virginia striatula
A closer look
Rough Earthsnake (Virginia striatula) is native to 14 U.S. jurisdictions, including Alabama, Arkansas, and Florida. This small fossorial snake that spends most of its life under cover is most often associated with moist soil and leaf litter beneath logs, rocks, and other cover and typically feeds on earthworms, slugs, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.
- Habitat
- Moist soil and leaf litter beneath logs, rocks, and other cover
- On the menu
- Earthworms, slugs, and other soft-bodied invertebrates
- Behavior
- Usually avoids people and uses cover or water as an escape route when disturbed.
Not considered venomous to people. Observe without handling, and never corner or relocate a wild snake.
Safety & bite guidance ↗Where it is listed
A sense of place.
Checklist presence only. A highlighted state is not a local range boundary. Territory tiles are schematic.
State & territory checklist
About continuous range data
A verified habitat-model layer is not available for this species in this release. Earlier broad sketches connected jurisdiction locations; they did not show measured occurrence or USGS habitat predictions.
Use USGS distribution resources ↗ for available modeled habitat data.
Names, sources & image evidence
Also known as: No additional names recorded.
Taxonomy: provisional. Territory checklist entries may be provisional. Field descriptions include broad group-level natural-history summaries.
Research Grade iNaturalist observation 1531477 has exact taxon Virginia striatula
Conservation & local rules
Collection, possession, relocation, and protection rules vary by state and territory. Check the relevant wildlife agency before taking action. Leave wild snakes where they are.