Reptile
Smooth Earthsnake
Virginia valeriaeAlso known as Smooth Earth Snake
Smooth earthsnakes lead secretive lives, spending most of their time burrowed beneath moist leaf litter, rotting logs, or loose soil in search of earthworms. Unlike many egg-laying reptiles, females give birth to miniature live young in late summer, with broods occasionally numbering up to a dozen. Their polished, unkeeled scales allow them to slide effortlessly through compact subterranean runways without snagging debris.
FossorialSecretiveSubterranean
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyEarthworms, Slugs, Beetle larvae
Predators
- Eastern Kingsnake
- Broad-winged Hawk
- Northern Short-tailed Shrew
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, intensive landscaping, pesticide use, and domestic cats
HabitatsDeciduous forests, damp pine woods, overgrown fields, and suburban gardens
Life span5–8 years
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- GenusVirginia
- SpeciesVirginia valeriae
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless and docile; safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Finding Shelter: Check beneath decaying logs, flat rocks, and deep leaf piles in damp woods.
- Gentle Observation: Avoid lifting or holding these tiny reptiles because their bodies are exceptionally fragile.
- Garden Hospitality: Maintain thick organic mulch and avoid pesticides to support their prey base.
Look-alike (c) Brian Gratwicke, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Ecological Neighbor (c) Mila C., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mila C. · cc-by
Close Relative MH Herpetology / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Subfamily (c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.