Sharptail snake, Brown snake, Gentle brown snake, Oregon worm snake, Pacific brown snake, Pacific ground snake, Purple-tailed snake
The Sharp-tailed snake (Contia tenuis) is a small non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. It can be found only in the Western United States and British Columbia.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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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...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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Non-venomousGe
Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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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.
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starts withThis species is distinguished by its sharp tail spine, which is the protruding tip of the last tail vertebra. The spine is not toxic and cannot injure humans. Rather, the tail is used to stabilize small prey, such as slugs, for consumption. The dorsal surface ranges in color from grayish brown to brown to brick red, with bubble-gum pink and peachy-orange specimens occasionally found. The ventral surface is a striking series of black and white crossbars.
These snakes are found through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as British Columbia, Canada: Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia around Victoria, British Columbia, and a newly discovered site in Pemberton, British Columbia. They live in various habitats, including forest edges, oak woodlands, chaparral, shrubland, meadows, and pastures.
Sharp-tailed snakes are shy, secretive creatures that often hide under rocks and logs, and are rarely found in the open. They are generally solitary but may gather in groups at favorable sites and several individuals can be found under a single small, flat rock. Sharp-tailed snakes are diurnal in their habits, being active during the daylight hours. They are known to burrow into soft soil or cracks in the clay and may be encountered by people who are digging in the garden or removing concrete. When encountered, these snakes may roll into a ball and remain still. They can be mistaken for a worm by the casual observer.
Sharp-tailed snakes are carnivores and mainly feed on slugs and eggs of slugs. They sometimes also eat insects and earthworms.
Sharp-tailed snakes breed in spring and in summer. The adult female lays 4-16 eggs underground or in a burrow. The young hatch in the fall and measure 3-4 in (7.6-10.2 cm) in total length (including tail).
There are no major threats facing this species at present.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the adult Sharp-tailed snake is unknown but surely exceeds 10,000 individuals and probably exceeds 100,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
