I found this small (circa 20 cm/8 in.) snake curled up in under the bark of a rotting log while looking for beetles. I captured it temporarily for some photos. I occasionally find them in garden soil as well--they seem to be not too uncommon in the suburban Piedmont of North Carolina. Links:-NC Herps-Florida HerpetologyVirginia_striatulaPCCA20070421-1943A
High magnification view of the lateral scales on the Rough Earth Snake (Virginia striatula) I recently photographed (here). I chilled the snake briefly, and then placed it on a stage where I could get some close-ups. (Chilling did not slow it down for very long, but it did freeze when placed in a large tray with no cover under which to hide.)The scales are about 1 mm on the long axis. The scales near the head are smooth, but most of the scales farther back on the body (but not on the belly) have these ridges. Some day I'll find a Smooth Earth Snake for comparison.I just noticed that the little notches at the end of each scale fit neatly over the ridge in the scale below. You can see that the notches are worn--must be from rubbing up and down on the ridge.Virginia_striatulaPCCA20070429-2012A2
This detail of the head shows the banding apparently present on some individuals of this species. I have also seen individuals that are just plain tan/ brown with few markings. I'll have a detail photo later showing the ridges on the scales, which differentiate this from the similar Smooth Earth Snake. (I have yet to find that species that I know of.)Virginia_striatulaPCCA20070421-1936ASee the scales here.
