Carphophis vermis
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Eubot
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Removed taxobox colour. See [[User:Eubot/Removing colours from taxoboxen]].
{{Taxobox
| name = Western Worm Snake
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Reptilia]]
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| subordo = [[Serpentes]]
| familia = [[Colubridae]]
| subfamilia = [[Xenodontinae]]
| genus = ''[[Carphophis]]''
| species = '''''C. vermis'''''
| binomial = ''Carphophis vermis''
| binomial_authority = [[Robert Kennicott|Kennicott]], 1859
| synonyms = ''Celuta vermis''<br><small>[[Robert Kennicott|Kennicott]], 1859</small>
}}
The '''Western Worm Snake''' (''Carphophis vermis'') is a small, non-venomous [[colubrid]] [[snake]] native to the [[United States]].
== Description ==
Western worm snakes have a dark, [[black]] or [[brown]]ish dorsal coloration, with a [[pink]] or [[red]]dish underside. They can grow to lengths of 11 inches (28 cm).
== Geographic range ==
Western worm snakes are found in the United States in southern [[Iowa]], southeastern [[Nebraska]], eastern [[Kansas]], western [[Illinois]], [[Missouri]], [[Louisiana]], eastern [[Oklahoma]], and northeastern [[Texas]] with isolated records from southwestern [[Wisconsin]], and southeastern [[Arkansas]].
== Behavior ==
Worm snakes are [[fossorial]] snakes, and spend the vast majority of their time buried in loose, rocky soil, or under damp 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 1-8 eggs and hatching takes place in August or September. Hatchlings range in size from 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm). Worm snake [[diet (nutrition)|diet]] consists almost entirely of [[earthworm]]s, but they will also consume other soft bodied [[insect]]s. If harassed, they will often release a foul smelling [[musk]] from its [[cloaca]]. If handled, they may press their tail tip into the captor's hand as a defense mechanism.
== References ==
*[http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/snakes/carphophis.vermis.html Herps of Texas: Western Worm Snake]
*{{EMBL species|genus=Carphophis|species=vermis}}
[[Category:Colubrids]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Plains-Midwest (United States)]]
[[Category:Reptiles of the United States]]
[[Category:Fauna of the Southeastern United States]]
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