May 2007 - Volume 68, Issue 5
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Tiny Snakes
Some snakes never grow much larger than worms, and they are just as harmless.
Most snake species native to Missouri are from 2 to 5 feet long—nose to tip of tail—but we also have many snake species that stay tiny throughout their lives. The shy flat-headed snake, for example, seldom grows longer than 7 inches, and a “gigantic” prairie ring-necked snake might measure just over a foot long.
People sometimes believe that any small snake they encounter is just a “baby snake.” If it has even a bit of red, brown or tan coloring they might think it is a baby copperhead, which to them seems to justify killing it.
While it’s never a good idea to kill any snake that doesn’t present a clear danger to people, killing small snakes that have no potential to harm us is certainly unnecessary.
Missouri’s group of small snakes are generally shy and reclusive. None of them are a threat to people. Even the few that inject venom through tiny fangs to subdue small prey cannot pierce human skin.
With a little time and study you can learn to recognize Missouri’s tiny snakes. Many of them have attractive colors and patterns, as well as fascinating life histories, making them great candidates for nature study.
About This Article
Author and Photographer
TOM R. JOHNSON retired as state herpetologist
with the department of Conservation in 2000.
He grew up in Wisconsin, earned his biology
degree from the University of Wisconsin—Stevens
Point in 1970, and came to the department
after seven years in the zoo field. tom is the author
of The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri.
He now lives on a small farm in the Ozarks.
