Brown Snake

Storeria dekayi

Brown Snakes are small and usually brown or gray. They like to hide in leaf litter and are very shy.

Habitat: Woodlands and gardens

Appearance

The Brown Snake is a small, slender reptile, typically brown to grayish-brown with a lighter stripe running down its back. It often has two rows of small dark spots along its sides, sometimes merging into a checkerboard pattern, and a distinct dark marking on its neck.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderSerpentesFamilyColubridaeGenusStoreria

Brown Snake

Interesting facts

Brown snakes help our gardens by eating slimy slugs and snails, keeping plants safe.

Imagine being born without an egg! Brown snakes have live babies, up to 20 at once.

These shy snakes are completely harmless to humans and are very gentle.

They are so tiny, some are shorter than your hand, but mighty pest controllers!

Special abilities

Brown Snake has the unique ability to give birth to up to 20 live, fully formed young at once, rather than laying eggs.

Brown Snake can easily eat soft-bodied invertebrates like slugs and snails because of its specialized small, pointed teeth designed for gripping them.

Measurements & details

Length: 20-33 cm
Weight: 0.002-0.014 kg
Lifespan: 2-5 years
Top Speed: 1 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-20

Diet & Feeding

Tiny predators, Brown Snakes feast on slugs, snails, and soft-bodied invertebrates found in gardens.

Primary Foods

Slugs
Snails
Earthworms
Soft-bodied insects

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Small snakes can be prey for these opportunistic raptors.

eaten by

Common Garter Snake

Thamnophis sirtalis

Larger garter snakes may prey on smaller brown snakes.

hunts

Black Slug

Arion ater

A primary food source, helping control slug populations.

hunts

Common Earthworm

Lumbricus terrestris

An important part of its diet, especially in moist soil.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Solitary

Meet animals that enjoy their independence! These creatures prefer to live by themselves, finding food and shelter on their own.

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!