Cora Kennicott's snake, Kirtland's red snake, Kirtland's water snake, Little red snake, Ohio Valley water snake, Spread head
Kirtland's snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) is a nonvenomous snake, the only species in the genus Clonophis. It is threatened or endangered (depending on location) North American species. This snake was first identified by Robert Kennicott in 1855.
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Te
TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Fo
FossorialA fossorial animal is one adapted to digging which lives primarily but not solely, underground. Some examples are badgers, naked mole-rats, clams, ...
Pr
PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
Ov
OvoviviparousOvoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous an...
No
Non-venomousNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
K
starts withKirtland's snakes are small and slender. They are grayish brown with a double series of large black spots down the back, and alternating smaller spots running down each side. The ventral scales are brick red with a prominent round black spot at each outer end. They have 19 rows of keeled dorsal scales at midbody.
Kirtland's snakes are found in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, southern Michigan, northeastern Missouri, Ohio, and northwestern Tennessee. They live in forests, grasslands, wet prairies, wet meadows, and wetlands such as swamps and marshes. During the spring season, Kirtlsnd's snakes occur within areas with abundant grass, herbaceous vegetation, and shrubs.
Kirtland's snakes are shy, secretive reptiles that spend much of their time underground. They also frequently hide under moist leaf litter. They are usually active during the nighttime. Kirtland's snakes are almost always found very close to a water source, even though they are less aquatic than water snakes of the genus Nerodia which share their geographic range. When alarmed the Kirtland's snake flattens its entire body to a remarkable thinness and becomes rigid. It will also coil up into a disc the size of about a quarter in an attempt to hide from potential threats. If this does not succeed, it will then flee instead of fight.
Kirtland's snakes are carnivores and prey primarily on earthworms, slugs, minnows, salamanders, frogs, and toads. They can also prey on juvenile crayfish, earthworms, slugs, small minnows, and leeches.
Kirtland's snakes are ovoviviparous. Females give birth to live young in August and September. Brood size varies from 4 to 22 young. Each newborn is 13-17 cm (5-6¾ in.) in total length and averages 1.4 g in weight.
The main threats to Kirtland's snakes are habitat loss and human activities. Much of their natural habitat was lost due to the expansion of agriculture. These snakes are also threatened by predation, the use of pesticides, road kills, and collection for the pet trade.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Kirtland's snake total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
