About Carphophis vermis (Kennicott, 1859)
Carphophis vermis, commonly known as the western worm snake, has dark black or purplish coloration on its dorsal side, and a lighter pink or reddish underside. Most adult western worm snakes have a total length (including the tail) between 19 cm (7.5 in) and 28 cm (11 in). The maximum recorded total length for this species is 37.5 cm (14.8 in). This snake is found in the United States, across southern Iowa, southeastern Nebraska, eastern Kansas, western Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma, and northeastern Texas. There are also isolated recorded populations in southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Arkansas, and western and middle Tennessee. Little information is available about the mating habits of the western worm snake, though breeding is thought to occur in early spring. Females lay eggs in early summer, with typical clutches containing between 1 and 8 eggs. Hatching occurs in August or September, and newly hatched western worm snakes measure between 7.6 cm (3 in) and 10.2 cm (4 in) in total length.
