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Carphophis vermis

(Kennicott, 1859)

Western Wormsnake

G5Secure Found in 7 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106326
Element CodeARADB02020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusCarphophis
Synonyms
Carphophis amoenus vermis(Kennicott, 1859)
Other Common Names
Western Worm Snake (EN)
Concept Reference
Clark, D. R., Jr. 1968. A proposal of specific status for the western worm snake, Carphophis amoenus vermis (Kennicott). Herpetologica 24:104-112.
Taxonomic Comments
Clark (1968) proposed that C. vermis and C. amoenus be recognized as distinct species. Rossman (1973) cited intergrade populations as evidence that amoenus and vermis are conspecific. Separate species status was proposed by Collins (1991), but no supporting data were presented. Ernst et al. (2003) also treated amoenus and vermis as distinct species without refuting or mentioning Rossman's conclusion; they distinguished the taxa using differences in coloration. Crother (2017) follow Clark (1968) but anticipate results from molecular studies to better understand population structure and gene flow among allopatric lineages.
Conservation Status
Review Date2006-08-30
Change Date1996-10-31
Edition Date2005-09-09
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
The range includes southeastern Nebraska, southern Iowa, western Illinois, eastern Kansas (Collins 1993), Missouri (Johnson 2000), eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas (Trauth et al. 2004), northern Louisiana (Dundee and Rossman 1989), and northeastern Texas (Werler and Dixon 2000), with an isolated population in southwestern Wisconsin (Vogt 1981); populations in northeastern Louisiana and adjacent southeastern Arkansas appear to be isolated from the main range (Ernst et al. 2003). Range is west of the Mississippi River except in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a large number of occurrences or subpopulations (100s) (e.g., see maps in Ernst et al. 2003 and Trauth et al. 2004).
Threat Impact Comments
Trauth et al. (2004) suggested that some populations in northern Arkansas may be detrimentally affected by alteration of forest floor habitat (removal of rocks for rock gardens), but they stated that the species is not endangered or threatened in Arkansas. Overall, this snake is not significantly threatened.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Habitat generally consists of moist, rocky, wooded or partially wooded hillsides, forest or woodland edges, or wooded riparian corridors in prairies (Collins 1993, Johnson 2000, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Trauth et al. 2004). These snakes usually are hidden in leaf litter, under rocks, logs, or rotting stumps, or in damp soil (Johnson 2000, Trauth et al. 2004).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedForest EdgeWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - Mixed
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IowaS2Yes
MissouriS5Yes
OklahomaS3Yes
ArkansasS5Yes
WisconsinS1Yes
TexasS1Yes
NebraskaS2Yes
IllinoisS3Yes
LouisianaS1Yes
KansasS5Yes
Roadless Areas (7)
Arkansas (6)
AreaForestAcres
Clifty CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,963
Devils CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,877
Dismal CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest9,160
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
Gee CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,957
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Oklahoma (1)
AreaForestAcres
Beech CreekOuachita National Forest8,303
References (15)
  1. Clark, D. R., Jr. 1968. A proposal of specific status for the western worm snake, <i>Carphophis amoenus vermis</i> (Kennicott). Herpetologica 24:104-112.
  2. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  3. Collins, J. T. 1993. Amphibians and reptiles in Kansas. Third edition, revised. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Public Education Series No. 13. xx + 397 pp.
  4. Collins, J. T., and T. W. Taggart. 2002. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians, turtles, reptiles, & crocodilians. Fifth edition. Publication of The Center for North American Herpetology, Lawrence, Kansas. iv + 44 pp.
  5. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  7. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  8. Crother, B. I., J. Boundy, J. A. Campbell, K. de Queiroz, D. R. Frost, R. Highton, J. B. Iverson, P. A. Meylan, T. W. Reeder, M. E. Seidel, J. W. Sites, Jr., T. W. Taggart, S. G. Tilley, and D. B. Wake. 2000 [2001]. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular No. 29. 82 pp.
  9. Dundee, H. A., and D. A. Rossman. 1989. The amphibians and reptiles of Louisiana. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge.
  10. Ernst, C. H., J. M. Orr, and T. R. Creque. 2003a. <i>Carphophis</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 773:1-2.
  11. Ernst, C. H., J. M. Orr, and T. R. Creque. 2003c. <i>Carphophis vermis</i>. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 775:1-4.
  12. Johnson, T. R. 2000. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. Second edition. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City. 400 pp.
  13. Rossman, D. A. 1973. Evidence of conspecificity of <i>Carphophis amoenus</i> (Say) and <i>Carphophis vermis</i> (Kennicott). Journal of Herpetology 7:140-141.
  14. Trauth, S. E., H. W. Robison, and M. V. Plummer. 2004. The amphibians and reptiles of Arkansas. University of Arkansas Press.
  15. Werler, J. E., and J. R. Dixon. 2000. Texas snakes: identification, distribution, and natural history. University of Texas Press, Austin. xv + 437 pp.