1 2 Please Don’t Kill Us, We Are Not Copperheads! Snakes of Anderson County, Tennessee Un­Confusing Confusing Snakes Photo: J. Klein 3 Even though we are harmless, we are often killed because of mistaken identity. Some‐
times we are killed just because we are snakes. It is hard to understand why humans needlessly destroy us. We hope improved education and the fact that many people find us fascinating and interesting will help ensure our future survival. This identifica‐
tion guide will help you learn about some of the snakes found in Anderson County, TN. You will also read about student researchers who have been studying snakes like us for over 20 years! The “smiling” Hog­nosed Snake will alert you to fun facts about snakes! 4 Try identifying the five snakes on this page and then turn the page to see how you did! 5 Page 2 Using Patterns To Identify Snakes Herpetologists ‐ scientists who study amphibians and reptiles ‐ use a combination of traits to identify snakes. They look at pat‐
tern, color, body shape (including head), habitat, and behavior (example, how the snake moves). Even though pattern and color can vary, they are still good characteristics for helping you identify snakes. The images below are body sections of differ‐
ent individuals of the same species as snakes 1 through 5 on the front page. They are randomly arranged and have a letter be‐
side each pattern. Try to match the letter to the number of the same species on the front page. An answer key, including the common name of the snake, is provided at the bottom of the page. B A C D F E It is not uncommon to hear someone say “I smell cucumbers, there must be a copperhead nearby.” Most snakes, including copperheads, can release unpleasant odors when disturbed, but we have never heard herpetologists describe the defensive spray of copperheads as having a cucumber smell. The authors of this guide have had the unique experience of smelling many upset copperheads and can testify to the unpleasantness of their aroma, but would not describe it as the odor of cut cu­
cumbers. Answer Key: A: # 4 Adult CornsSnake, B: # 2 Juvenile Ratsnake, C: # 5 Juvenile Cornsnake D: # 1 Adult Hog‐nosed Snake, E: # 3 Watersnake, F: Adult Copperhead—not on front page. County Snakes of Anderson County Page 3 Don’t Get The Big Head When Identifying Snakes Snakes 1 and 3 on the front page have large heads but both are harmless. Unless you have carefully looked at a lot of snakes, it may be confusing to use head size as a key feature for identifying venomous snakes. Snake 1 is a Hog‐nosed and 3 is a Water‐ snake which is commonly mistaken for a Copperhead or Cottonmouth. Some snakes react to danger by making their head look larger, just as some people respond by standing tall and inflating their chest when challenged by another person. 3 1 Watersnake 1 ­ Harmless Hognose and 3 ­ Watersnake Head size can be misleading when it comes to identifying ven‐
omous snakes. Markings and color patterns are often more helpful for snake identification. The harmless baby Watersnake above was squashed by a sewing machine thrown on it after the snake was discov‐
ered in the basement of a house. Notice the differences between the dark markings on the Watersnake and the cop‐
perheads below. Young copperheads have a yellow tail tip which is absent on watersnakes and adult copperheads . We were encouraged by the person having killed the snake wanting to know what kind it was in order to avoid making the same mistake in the future. Yellow Tail Venomous Adult Copperhead Juvenile Copperhead Both the adult and juvenile Copperhead have dark, “hourglass” shaped markings. The markings are narrow on top and widen on the sides. Markings are variable and thus it is important to look at several to insure proper identification, just as Botanists look at several leaves on a tree to correctly identify it. The pattern on the middle section of the Copperhead at the right is unusual. The dark, hourglass markings do not con‐
nect in the middle of the back and the wide shapes on the sides run together, forming dark, wavy lines on each side. Copperhead color patterns are some of nature’s finest art work, but please admire them from a distance! County Snakes of Anderson County Wavy Line Page 4 Harmless Medium to Large Snakes In The Yard Or Garden Three species of snakes are commonly referred to as “black” snakes in our area. All three kinds occasionally roam around houses looking for juicy rodents to eat or warm places to sun themselves. The beautiful Cornsnake is also fond of rodents and may be seen around barns or sheds. Unfortunately, cornsnakes are often misidentified as copperheads and needlessly de‐
stroyed. Please take a few moments and study the characteristics of these four species of highly beneficial reptiles. Juvenile Black Kingsnake Adult Black Kingsnake Black kingsnakes have smooth, shiny black scales with varying amounts of yellow (“chains”) across the back. Their belly is yel‐
lowish with checkerboard black markings. The small head and smooth body helps them trail rodents ‐ they especially like voles ‐ through underground tunnels. They also eat reptiles, including other snakes, and are immune to the venom of Copperheads. The three species on this page and the Cornsnake, unlike watersnakes, may vibrate their tail when disturbed. Dark Line Behind the Eye Adult Black Ratsnake Juvenile Black Rat Juvenile Black Racer White belly with black checkerboard markings. Black ratsnakes are thick bodied with varying amounts of white between the scales. In our area the color may range from mostly black to having reddish blotching as the one above shows. The white belly has dark checkerboard markings on it. Racers are solid black on top with a bluish belly. Juveniles of both species have a blotched pattern which completely disappears with age in the racer. Adult ratsnakes often retain evidence of the blotch‐
ing. Young ratsnakes have a dark line behind the eye. Adult Racer Bluish belly Black Racer speed ­ about 3mi/hr ­ is often exaggerated. Some peo­
ple claim they have been chased by a racer, but we know of no one who has actually been caught. The authors have surprised racers which in turn crawled toward them in their attempt to escape. The highly energetic racer will vigorously defend itself when cornered. County Snakes of Anderson County Page 5 Cornsnakes Juvenile Cornsnakes have “saddle” shaped reddish markings down the back which are bordered by black. Corn and black rat snakes are good climbers and may hunt in trees or use them as retreat or sunning sites. Racers and king‐ snakes are more likely to be seen on the ground, but will also search for prey in shrubs and small trees. Notice the “spear” shaped marking on the head of the Cornsnake. Compare this to the solid coppery brown head of the Copperhead below. Adult Copperhead Gartersnake Most gartersnakes in our area are dark with three yellow‐
ish stripes. They have a beautiful red and black tongue. Snakes do not actually smell with their tongue, but instead use it to help transfer odor particles from the air to a special “smell” sensory organ in the head. Tyler and JP with cornsnakes Please carefully study the pattern and body shape differences between cornsnakes and copperheads. These 7th grade researchers (left) have just found two corn snakes under plywood. They are collecting long‐
term information on snakes found at the Univer‐
sity of TN Forest Research and Education Center. Kids are fascinated by snakes and ask good questions during education programs. They also share stories about people who “teach” snake myths and needlessly kill snakes. We hope educa­
tors will help correct flawed information by including snake studies in the curriculum. County Snakes of Anderson County Page 6 Small Harmless Snakes In The Yard Or Garden There are 20 different kinds of snakes documented from Anderson County and only two are venomous. This page focuses on smaller species which may show up in your yard or garden. All snakes on this page are harmless and rarely open their mouths when handled, but some, like the Ringneck, can produce an unpleasant odor. They all feed on a variety of insects and other invertebrates. Smooth Earthsnake Wormsnake The Wormsnake and Earthsnake are small, usually 12 inches or less, thin snakes with pointy heads. They are partial to woodlands, but may show up along wooded edges and under natural and human made objects in and around yards. Wormsnakes vary in color from gray to brown on the back and have pinkish bellies. Earthsnakes have brown backs with scattered black dots and a solid cream to light gray belly. Notice the dots in the photo on the right, and absence of dots on the Wormsnake. Light Brown Collar Red­bellied Snake Red‐bellied and Ring‐necked snakes are two of our most lovely reptiles. The indi‐
vidual above is in the process of shedding its skin and thus the body color is dull. Notice the light brown collar on the back of the neck. The Ring‐necked also has a collar, but it is the color of gold and much brighter than the Red‐bellied. Ring‐
necked snake bellies vary from yellow to orange and usually have some black markings shaped like half‐moons down the middle. Reports of ring‐necked snakes and brownsnakes (below) being found in garages in the fall are not uncommon. Some markings are connected by a line. Brownsnake County Snakes of Anderson County Ring­necked Snake Brownsnakes have two rows of dark markings down each side of the back. At least some of the markings are connected by lines across the back . Brownsnakes, along with Earthsnakes and Red‐
bellied snakes give birth to live young instead of laying shelled eggs like most snakes. Brownsnakes are common in some areas of Anderson County, and may be found under cover objects on the ground. Page 7 CRESO Student Researchers Students with the Clinch River Environmental Studies Organization (CRESO) have been studying snakes in Anderson County for over 20 years. They have collected data on more than 3,000 snake captures. This research has resulted in several senior theses and publications, but more importantly these kids will teach respect for snakes to their children . Elise with newly captured Kingsnake Humongous Black Ratsnake found by students at UT Arboretum Charlotte and Leanne collect cloaca tempera‐
ture data on snakes under coverboards Jesse, Ted, and Adam after capturing five racers in 10 minutes Betty and Susie (School Administrative Assistants) photocopying the belly pattern on a kingsnake for long‐term identification Jeremy and Andy radio tracking to gather data on snake home ranges County Snakes of Anderson County A Few Common Snakes Species in Anderson County Myths Debunked ­The Facts­ Family: Colubridae ‐ Colubrids Carphophis amoenus ‐ Eastern Wormsnake Cemophora coccinea ‐ Scarletsnake
Coluber constrictor ‐ North American Racer Diadophis punctatus ‐ Ring‐necked Snake Heterodon platirhinos ‐ Eastern Hog‐nosed Snake
Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata‐ Mole Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula nigra – Eastern Black Kingsnake Lampropeltis triangulum ‐ Milksnake •
“Black Snakes” and Copperheads do not mate with each other •
Female snakes do not swallow their young •
Snakes do not milk cows •
Snakes, other than rattlesnakes, will vibrate their tail when disturbed •
Of the three “black snakes”, only kingsnakes and racers will eat other snakes Nerodia sipedon ‐ Northern Watersnake Opheodrys aestivus ‐ Rough Greensnake Pantherophis guttatus ‐Red Cornsnake Resources for Learning more about Amphibians and Pantherophis spiloides ‐ Gray Ratsnake (also commonly referred to as Black Ratsnake) Regina septemvittata ‐ Queensnake Storeria dekayi ‐ DeKay Brownsnake Reptiles in Tennessee Storeria occipitomaculata ‐ Red‐bellied Snake Tantilla coronata ‐ Southeastern Crowned Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis ‐ Common Gartersnake Virginia valeriae ‐ Smooth Earthsnake Crotalus horridus ‐ Timber Rattlesnake – Mainly Restricted to Mountainous Regions of Anderson County. Their numbers appear to be dwindling. The ratings below are based on using a limited number of techniques for finding snakes and thus may not reflect the true status of some species. Common Fairly Common
TWRA www.tn.gov/twra/nongame.html •
THS www.tnherpsociety.org •
Frog Haven Farm www.froghavenfarm.com •
LEAPS www.leaps.ms •
Atlas of Reptiles in Tennessee www.apsu.edu/reptatlas •
CRESO www.cresosnake.com Family: Viperidae ‐ Vipers Agkistrodon contortrix ‐ Copperhead •
Rare Scientific and common names follow Crother (2008). Nomenclature above the level of species follows that of Conant and Collins (1998). County Snakes of Anderson County All photos taken by CRESO Students or Staff unless otherwise noted. This CRESO publication supported by the Department of Energy , Grant #DE‐FG05‐
930R22105CRESO