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Help I.D. This Little Guy

Virginia valeriae aren't present in College Station anyways. I've been fully behind Virginia striatula the entire time and did various inspections of the snake before releasing it again. Thanks for backing me up :cool:
 
SkyChimp said:
An easier way to tell is that Virginia striatula has keeled scales (hence rough), and Tantilla gracilis has smooth scales. It doesn't really have the coloration of Virginia valeriae (Smooth Earth Snake). Additionlly, the very pink belly is sort of a distinguishing feature of V. striatula. I think that's what it is.
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Ooops, I screwed up. I meant to say the pink belly is a mark of T. gracilis. I think its a T. gracilis (Flat-headed Snake).
 
It actually had a very whit plain belly, the lighting in that picture is very bad and it was hard to get the little guy to sit still for a picture. Most of that coloring is coming off of the bedding and the walls in that room. It also had the loreal scale that isn't presant in tantilla gracilis.
 
Pruddock said:
Virginia valeriae aren't present in College Station anyways. I've been fully behind Virginia striatula the entire time and did various inspections of the snake before releasing it again. Thanks for backing me up :cool:
Click to expand...

I backed you up by accident. :shrugs:

Of course you are in a better position to tell what it was than any of us. We have to rely on the pictures. It LOOKS to me like it had smooth scales. If it had smooth scales, it couldn't have been V. striatula because V. striatula has keeled scales. V. valeriae has smooth scales, but apparently isn't present where you are. T. gracilis has smooth scales, the coloration of the snake in your picture, including the pink belly.

Anyway, go catch another and post more pics. I like the "what is it thread." And I apologize for my carelessness.
 
Pruddock said:
It actually had a very whit plain belly, the lighting in that picture is very bad and it was hard to get the little guy to sit still for a picture. Most of that coloring is coming off of the bedding and the walls in that room. It also had the loreal scale that isn't presant in tantilla gracilis.
Click to expand...

If that's the case, then I would agree with you.

I thought the pink belly was the most telling. "Snakes of the Southeast" by Gibbons and Dorcas specificaly mention the pink belly as a distinguishing feature. But if it wasn't really pink, then that theory is out.

Good thread, though. I love these little snakes we simply find or accidentally dig up.
 
The most descriptive pic of its underside color is actually the third pic just a little on the side you can see the white im talking about. I don't know...im plannin on doin some more local herpin when it warms up down here. We have a nice little pond and run-off ditch behind our apartment that I wanna check out and I know there are a couple of water snakes around there so I'm excited for spring :cheers:
 
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