Carphophis
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2008-02-29T02:17:27Z
Eubot
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Removed taxobox colour. See [[User:Eubot/Removing colours from taxoboxen]].
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Carphophis''
| image =
| image_width =
| image_caption =
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Reptilia]]
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| subordo = [[Serpentes]]
| familia = [[Colubridae]]
| subfamilia = [[Xenodontinae]]
| genus = '''''Carphophis'''''
| genus_authority = [[Paul Gervais|Gervais]], [[1843]]
}}
'''''Carphophis''''' is a [[genus]] of [[colubrid]] [[snake]]s commonly referred to as '''worm snakes'''. The genus consists of two [[species]], which are divided into the eastern and western types. They are found only in the eastern half of the [[United States]].
== Description ==
Worm snakes are small (35 cm) snakes. They are usually a dark [[brown]] in color, with a lighter colored, [[pink]] or [[orange (colour)|orange]] underside. They are easily mistaken for other similar species, such as the earth snakes, ''[[Virginia (genus)|Virginia sp.]]'' and brown snakes, ''[[Storeria|Storeria sp.]]'' They have a narrow head, and small [[eye]]s, and a sharp tail tip.
== Behavior ==
Worm snakes are [[fossorial]] snakes, and spend the vast majority of their time buried in loose, rocky soil, or under forest leaf litter. They are abundant within their range, but rarely seen due to their secretive nature. Little is known about their mating habits, but breeding likely occurs in the early spring and [[egg (biology)|eggs]] are laid in the early summer. Clutch size is normally 2-5 eggs and hatching takes place in August or September. Hatchlings range in size from 7 to 12 cm. Worm snake [[diet (nutrition)|diet]] consists almost entirely of [[earthworm]]s but they will also consume other soft bodied [[insect]]s. They are a common food source for [[ophiophagy|ophiophagus]] snake species, such as the [[coral snake]].
== Species ==
*''[[Carphophis amoenus]]''
**Eastern Worm Snake, ''[[Carphophis amoenus amoenus]]'' ([[Thomas Say|Say]], [[1825]])
**Midwestern Worm Snake, ''[[Carphophis amoenus helenae]]'' ([[Robert Kennicott|Kennicott]], [[1859]])
*Western Worm Snake, ''[[Carphophis vermis]]'' ([[Robert Kennicott|Kennicott]], [[1859]])
== Geographic distribution ==
*''C. amoenus'' - [[Arkansas]], eastern [[Missouri]], [[Louisiana]], [[Mississippi]], [[Alabama]], northern [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[South Carolina]], [[North Carolina]], [[Tennessee]], [[Virginia]], [[West Virginia]], [[Kentucky]], southern [[Illinois]], southern [[Indiana]], southern [[Ohio]], [[Delaware]], [[New Jersey]], [[Maryland]], [[Pennsylvania]], southeastern [[New York]], and [[Connecticut]].
*''C. vermis'' - southern [[Iowa]], southeastern [[Nebraska]], eastern [[Kansas]], western Illinois, [[Missouri]], [[Louisiana]], eastern [[Oklahoma]], and northeastern [[Texas]] with isolated records from southwestern [[Wisconsin]], and southeastern [[Arkansas]].
== External links ==
*[http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/herpdist/species/ca_amoenus.html Illinois Natural History Survey - ''Carphophis amoenus'']
*[http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/snakes/worm_snake.html Western Worm Snake, ''Carphophis vermis'' photographs]
*[http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=26 Western Worm Snake - Carphophis vermis] Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide
== References ==
*{{EMBL genus|genus=Carphophis}}
{{snake-stub}}
[[Category:Colubrids]]