Texas Brown Snake

Storeria dekayi texana

Venom Status:

Non Venomous

 

Characteristics:

Adult at 10 to 16 inches in length. Brown to gray above with 2 rows of black spots, and white below. Dorsal area between the black spots is often a bit lighter in color than the sides. There may be a light collar and there is a dark subocular spot.beneath each eye. This snake may flatten the body and head and form an S or a loose coil when frightened. Use range when attempting subspecies differentiation. Broad areas of intergradation occur where subspecies about. Scales keeled and in 17 rows. Ovoviviparous. Neonates are very dark with white collar.

 

Unique Features:

Dark spot under each eye. Brown to gray above with 2 rows of black spots, and white below. The 5 subspecies of southeastern brown snakes are very difficult to differentiate. Use range maps.

 

Habitat and Diet:

Secretive: This is a small, totally innocuous, backyard, field, and woodland snake.The diet of this species consists primarily of earthworms but slugs are also often eaten

 

Geographic Range:

AR, LA, MN, TX, ID, KS, MO, NE, IA, SD