Rough Earth Snake

**Rough Earth Snake**

The Rough Earth Snake, *Haldea striatula*, is a small snake that feeds on earthworms. Adults average between 7-11 in. Its range extends from southeastern Virginia to northern Florida, west to central Texas, northward to central Missouri and extreme southwestern Tennessee.

Rough earth snakes are non-venomous and completely harmless to people and pets. In fact, they are a good snake for your children to hold and observe.

[Diagnostic Features:](https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/3/5007433_2ca701e663_o.jpg)

- Cone-shaped head and pointed snout.

- Internasal scales, generally paired in other snakes, are instead fused into a single scale.

- Five supralabials; two small preoculars; divided anal plate; keeled dorsal scales (arranged in 17 rows near midbody).

[Coloration:](https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/0000_0000/0211/1013.jpeg)

- Adults typically have a whitish ventral surface with a grey or brown dorsal surface.

- Dorsal color may be darker around the labial scales, as well as around the eye.

Interesting fact- *Haldea striatula* is a live bearing snake, having as many as 7 young in the late summer 7.5-12.5 cm (3-5 in). These young somewhat resemble ringneck snakes with their light colored neck collar, but this trait is lost as they become adults.


[Range map](http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/rangemaps/11062911485758805rangemap.gif).