Description: Adults are about 7-9 inches in total length, with a record length recorded of 9.5 inches. These small and thin snakes are tan to reddish brown with a dark brown or black head and neck. The dark head and neck may or may not be separated by a light-colored band across the back of the head. There is typically a small pale blotch on the sides of the head behind each eye. The belly is white or cream-colored and without markings. The scales of the body are smooth and there are 15 scale rows at midbody. The eyes are small, and the pupil is round. Juveniles are similar in coloration to adults.

Habitat: Habitats include sandhills, sand pine scrub, coastal dunes, and xeric and mesic hammocks; it is more common in sandhills than in scrub habitat. In scrub habitat, this snake appears to most common in early successional stages generated by periodic disturbance (e.g., fire, clear cutting) that removes the matted understory or pine canopy. Fire periodicity evidently has no influence on local distribution in sandhill habitat.. This secretive, fossorial snake is usually under the soil surface or under surface cover; it also uses pocket gopher mounds.

Range: USA (Florida); Type locality, "on the south side of Babson Park, Polk County, Florida."

Found in these States: FL

Diet: In north-central Florida, ate mostly larvae of one species of beetle, also centipedes, snails, and other insects.

Reproduction: oviparous. In central Florida, gravid females were found in mid-March, late April-early June (mainly), and early August; farther north, females with visible eggs were captured from March to August. Lays 1-3 eggs in spring or summer. Hatchlings have been found in May and June.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its relatively wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Taxonomy: