Pine Woods Littersnake
Rhadinaea flavilata
The Pine woods littersnake is a small, slender snake generally 10 - 13 inches (25 - 33 cm). It exhibits a yellow-brown or reddish-brown dorsum with a darker head and lig…
How to identify
The Pine woods littersnake is a small, slender snake generally 10 - 13 inches (25 - 33 cm). It exhibits a yellow-brown or reddish-brown dorsum with a darker head and lighter venter. There's a dark line which runs through the eye to the nose. And the upper lip scales are often yellowish giving it the nickname yellow-lipped snake.
Range
The Pine woods littersnake can be found throughout the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. From Louisiana east to North Carolina and south to Florida.
Habitat
Commonly inhabit damp pine flatwoods but can also be found in slash pine and longleaf pine woodlands. Prefers to hide under bark, leaves, logs, stumps, or in burrows underground. Females typically lay eggs in rotting wood.
Variations
Lip scales colors vary depending on region. Most Florida individuals exhibit plain white or yellowish lip scales while western and northern individuals in range usually have dark-speckled lip scales.
Similar species
Name and etymology
Genus
Rhadinaea
Greek for slim or slender (rhadinos).
Origin
Sources
- Cope, 1863. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. 15, p. 101 ↗
Rhadinaea. Cope, 1863 - Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. 15, p. 101
Species epithet
flavilata
Latin for broad (lata) yellow-gold colored (flavus).
Origin
Sources
- (Cope, 1871). Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. 23, p. 222 ↗
Rhadinaea flavilata. (Cope, 1871) - Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, Vol. 23, p. 222
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Range
The Pine woods littersnake can be found throughout the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. From Louisiana east…
Habitat
Commonly inhabit damp pine flatwoods but can also be found in slash pine and longleaf pine woodlands. Prefers to hide under b…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap