![]() ![]() The young somewhat resemble the ring-necked snake ( Diadophis punctatus) with a light-colored neck collar, but they are much drabber and lack a brightly-colored belly. Newborns are about 10 cm (4 inches) in total length. It is also viviparous, giving birth to 3 to 8 live young in mid-summer. It can reach very high densities in urban gardens, parks, and vacant lots. The species is found in a variety of forested habitats with plenty of ground cover, as well as in many urban areas. The rough earth snake is fossorial, hiding beneath logs, rocks, or ornamental stones, in leaf litter, or in compost piles and gardens. Unlike the rough earth snake, De Kay's brown snake retains these markings into adulthood. striatula is most likely to be confused with De Kay's brown snake ( Storeria dekayi), which is a little larger and is light brown with dark markings on the back and neck. ![]() Keeled scales differentiate the rough earth snake from the similar smooth earth snake ( Virginia valeriae), as well as from the wormsnake. The belly is tan to whitish and is not sharply defined in color from the back, unlike in the wormsnake ( Carphophis amoenus) or the red-bellied snake ( Storeria occipitomaculata). Young individuals often have a light band on the neck, which is normally lost as they mature. Females are a little longer and heavier than males, with relatively shorter tails. Dorsally, it is brown, gray, or reddish, and essentially has no pattern. It has a round pupil, weakly keeled dorsal scales, and usually a divided anal plate. striatula is a small, harmless, secretive, fairly slender snake, 7–10 inches (18–25 cm) in total length (including tail). It is also present in northern parts of Oklahoma. The rough earth snake is found from southern Virginia to northern Florida, west along the Gulf Coast to southern Texas, and north into south-central Missouri and southeastern Kansas. Other common names for Haldea striatula include: brown ground snake, brown snake, ground snake, little brown snake, little striped snake, small brown viper, small-eyed brown snake, southern ground snake, striated viper, and worm snake. Most recently, the generic name was changed back from Virginia to Haldea in 2013. Over the next two and a half centuries its scientific name has been changed several times (see synonyms). The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1766, as Coluber striatulus. Haldea striatula (formerly Virginia striatula), commonly called the rough earth snake, is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid snake native to the Southeastern United States. ![]()
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