ASPECTS
OF THE ECOLOGY OF SMALL FOSSORIAL SNAKES IN THE WESTERN PIEDMONT OF NORTH
CAROLINA
JOHN D. WILLSON AND MICHAEL E. DORCAS
ABSTRACT
- In many areas, small fossorial snakes are among the most abundant vertebrates
present; yet, the ecology of these species remains poorly understood.
Between 1999 and 2002 we collected 210 small fossorial snakes representing
five species in a small area of northern Mecklenburg and southern lredell
Counties, North Carolina. The eastern worm snake (Carphophis amoenus;
n = 116) was the most frequently captured species in this region, with
fewer numbers of ringneck snakes (Diadophis punctatus; n = 44),
brown snakes (Storeria dekayi; n = 24), redbellied snakes (S.
occipitomaculata; n = 20), and smooth earth snakes (Virginia
valeriae; n = 6). The three most abundant species exhibited significant
sexual dimorphism, with females being larger and having shorter relative
tail lengths than males. Carphophis amoenus were more abundant
in dry upland forest than D. punctatus, which were most prevalent in moist,
lowland forest. Snake activity was weakly correlated with environmental
conditions. A peak in activity of male C. amoenus, D. punctatus, and
S. occipitomaculata during September suggests fall breeding seasons
for these species.
SREL Reprint #2737
Willson, J. D. and M. E. Dorcas. 2004. Aspects of the ecology of small fossorial snakes in the western piedmont of North Carolina. Southeastern Naturalist 3:1-12.
