It's Easy to Mistake a Worm Snake for an Earthworm

There are a few recognized subspecies of worm snakes, with the eastern worm snake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus) being the most widespread. This subspecies is found throughout much of the eastern United States, especially in areas like the coastal plain, where it thrives in deciduous forests and moist, well-drained soils.

Another subspecies, the midwestern worm snake (Carphophis amoenus helenae), inhabits the central United States and shares similar behaviors and habitats. While these subspecies have many traits in common, they are adapted to slightly different environments, reflecting the ecological diversity of the regions they occupy.

These small, slender snakes typically grow to about 7 to 14 inches (18 to 35 centimeters) in length, with smooth, shiny scales that are usually dark brown on top and pink or light-colored underneath.

The small size and uniform coloration of the eastern worm snake often cause it to be mistaken for an earthworm, particularly when found beneath rocks or in leaf litter. The midwestern worm snake shares similar features and habits. Both have tiny, pointed heads and reduced eyes — adaptations that make them well-suited for a fossorial, or burrowing, lifestyle.

Worm snakes are solitary creatures that spend most of their time underground or hidden under leaf litter, rocks or rotting logs. These small fossorial snakes are rarely seen above ground, except occasionally after heavy rains or during the breeding season.

When disturbed, worm snakes will often burrow quickly into the soil or beneath nearby debris to escape predators. Unlike many other snakes, worm snakes are not aggressive and do not bite, relying instead on their ability to hide and their secretive nature to avoid danger.

Worm snakes have a specialized diet that primarily consists of soft-bodied insect larvae, such as those of beetles and ants, as well as earthworms. They are particularly well-adapted to hunting in the tight spaces of their underground environment, using their pointed heads to burrow through the soil and leaf litter in search of prey.

By feeding on insect larvae and other small invertebrates, worm snakes help control populations of these creatures, contributing to the overall health of their ecosystems. Unlike larger, more aggressive snakes, worm snakes are gentle feeders and play a more subtle role in their environment.

Worm snakes are commonly found in deciduous woodlands, where they prefer moist, loose soils that are easy to burrow through. These snakes thrive in areas with abundant leaf litter, rotting logs and rocks, which provide cover and hunting grounds.

The eastern worm snake is especially abundant in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States, including regions like South Carolina, where the humid, temperate conditions create an ideal habitat.

Similarly, the midwestern worm snake inhabits areas of the central United States, adapting to similar environments of moist, loose soils and abundant ground cover. Due to their fossorial nature, both subspecies are often discovered by turning over rocks or logs, as they are rarely seen on the surface.

The life cycle of worm snakes begins in the spring when they emerge from their underground hideouts to breed. Female snakes lay a small clutch of eggs, typically in late spring or very early summer, in moist, hidden locations such as under rotting logs or in loose soil.

The eggs hatch after a couple of months, usually in late summer, and the young snakes are fully independent from birth. These hatchlings are tiny replicas of the adults and immediately begin their fossorial lifestyle, burrowing into the soil to hunt for soft-bodied insect larvae and other small prey. Three years later, they begin their own breeding cycles.

Worm snakes generally have a lifespan of around 4 to 5 years, though this can vary depending on environmental conditions, predation and availability of resources. Their secretive and fossorial lifestyle helps them avoid predators, which contributes to their survival in the wild.

Worm snakes are generally not considered endangered, but their populations can be impacted by habitat destruction and changes in land use, particularly in areas where forests are cleared or developed.

Due to their small size and secretive nature, they often go unnoticed, even in regions where they are relatively common.

In Massachusetts, eastern worm snakes are classified as threatened species; in New York, they are a species of special concern, meaning their populations are vulnerable to threats like habitat loss, fragmentation and environmental changes. Conservation efforts in the state focus on protecting these habitats to ensure the species' long-term survival.

Maintaining healthy forest ecosystems with abundant leaf litter, rotting logs, and undisturbed soils is crucial not only for worm snakes but for many other species that depend on similar environments.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was edited and fact-checked by a HowStuffWorks editor.