The Variable Ground Snake grows 8-12 inches long. Its smooth, shiny scales come in variable colors and patterns. The snakes have small heads and big pupils. Their base color ranges from gray and light brown to orange and red.
This diminutive burrower has a record length of nearly 19 inches. More often it measures 10-13 inches. Its range extends from western Missouri and eastern Texas west to southeastern California and northwestern Nevada. This grassland/aridland snake lives mostly beneath flat stones and debris. It eats insects and arthropods like centipedes, scorpions and spiders. The ground snake’s head is slightly wider than its neck. Its belly lacks markings and can be white, cream or pale yellow.
Mating occurs in May and early June. Females lay 1-6 eggs underground from late May through August. Eggs incubate about 60 days.
The scientific name Sonora semiannulata refers to the snake’s home in the Sonoran Desert. The word semiannulata describes its colorful scale pattern.
What color are Western Ground snakes?
The color of the western ground snakes varies. The basic color of the body can be yellow-brown, light brown, orange. There are snakes with a dark band on the neck and snakes with several bands along their body.
The western ground snake is nocturnal and secretive but common. It is often on roadsides, in dry drainage ditches at night, foraging food. Diet: invertebrates like spiders, scorpions, centipedes, crickets, insect larvae.
The western ground snake is oviparous, breeding, laying eggs in summer.
The colors and markings of the non-venomous, western ground snake vary. It can be solid brown or red scales with a white belly. Or, red or orange scales with black bands on its body and belly. Western ground snakes with solid brown scales are mistaken for rough earth snakes. Territories overlap. Rough earth snake territory extends east.
The western ground snake is nocturnal, found in California, Kansas, Texas, Utah, Sonora, Colorado. The secretive small snake has color variations. Earlier each coloration was a subspecies, now just morphs.
The western ground snake is small, nonvenomous, found in the Western United States and Mexico. It has various body colorations. Referred to as the common or variable ground snake.
The color varies between snakes. The basic body color can be yellow-brown, light brown, orange. Some have a neck band. Some have body bands. The belly is light grey, white or cream. An orange snake with black blotches is common.
Ground snakes differ in coloration. Colors include red, orange, brown. They can be solid or patterned with bands, blotches or stripes.
Ground snakes eat centipedes and pests.
Color variations once meant five species. Research showed coloring had no bearing on breeding so species were hard to define. Some refer to species by region.
Variable ground snakes breed with differently colored snakes. Western ground snakes are non-poisonous and harmless. Least Concern species.
Diet: Spiders, scorpions, centipedes, crickets, grasshoppers, insect larvae. Nocturnal. Uses ground cover. No reproduction data. May not require permanent water. Occurs in desert habitats with fine sand.
Nocturnal, occasionally active at dusk. Active spring to late summer.
Common names: Ground snake, western ground snake, common ground snake, variable ground snake, miter snake. Come in black and red. Grow up to 18 inches. Found in rocky, loose soil areas where they can move and stay warm. Nocturnal, seen at night when looking for food like rodents, roaches, moisture.
The Western Lyre Snake has beautiful dark blotches, in brown or gray. Big eyes, looks hypnotic. Mildly venomous to lizards.
The ring-necked snake has a bright orange, red or yellow belly used to ward off predators.
Found in open sandy grassy regions, rocks or debris for hiding. Prey items vary from insects to spiders to scorpions. Geographic range: Southwest and central US.
What do you feed ground snakes?
Snakes are natural hunters. In captivity their healthiest food is rats or mice, fed either live or frozen then thawed. Choose the size right for your snake’s age and species. Purchase mice or rats as most snakes eat mice, rats or other small rodents.
Ground snakes rely on their excellent sense of smell to locate prey: spiders, scorpions, crickets, grasshoppers. There are shallow grooves on the outer sides of rear teeth. This indicates that this snake may produce a mild venom, but it is not dangerous to humans.
You can tell a snake is hungry when it exhibits behaviors: prowling, being active, focussing on you, flicking tongue more, and hunting at a similar daily time.
The choice of what to feed grass snakes depends on your preference and snake size. Mice are best, but frogs and toads can also work. These are less nutritious than mice and may not be in stores.
You cannot give fried or saucy food. Ingredients may make your snake sick. So what do you feed tiny snakes? Pinkie rats instead of mice. Owners may also choose small mice. Mealworms are safe, as are eggs. Live prey should not be fed. Thawed, frozen is better.
If you found a snake near water, feed leeches. If in a dry area, feed slugs. Also feed earthworms and fresh, whole fish.
They will slither away if you come across one. They are harmless and will cruise your garden for a meal.
What is the meaning of ground snake?
A ground snake is a small, non-venomous serpent found in the western United States. Known as Sonora semiannulata, these snakes prefer dry habitats like deserts and grasslands. They primarily feed on insects. Ground snakes are recognized by distinct color patterns of rings, stripes, or spots.
A ground snake is a shy, terrestrial snake with bright rings found in arid areas of western North America. It is a small, non-venomous colubrid. Some species play dead when threatened. Ground snakes rely on moisture and are often found near water. The North American ground snake curls its tail to mimic venomous rattlesnakes when defending itself.
The meaning of ground snake is a small reddish grey snake called Haldea striatula found in the eastern United States. It is any of numerous small terrestrial colubrid snakes.
The common ground snake is a small, crevice-dwelling reptile under 19 inches long. Ground snakes are considered helpful as they eat pests like scorpions and centipedes. Two genera of ground snakes exist – Atractus in South America and Sonora in North America. North American ground snakes prefer very dry or sandy areas and river bed thickets. They often dine on crickets and have small heads with smooth scales.