In a state where everything is bigger, including the dog-sized mosquitos, finding some really small critters is fun. How small? The typical maximum length of all the snakes on my list are 12 inches or less.
So here are some of the smallest snakes you’ll find in the great state of Texas.
DeKay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi)
Although the record biggest DeKay’s brownsnake was a whopping 19 3/4 inches long, most of them never get bigger than 12 inches. Like the rough earthsnakes, they frequent the edges of garden compost and leaf litter, looking for worms, slugs and snails.
Red-bellied snakes (S. occipitomaculata) are close cousins, found in the far eastern area of Texas.
Texas blind snake (Rena dulcis)
Harmless blind snakes keep earthworm populations in check.Photo byObservation © John G. Phillips; CC-BY-NC
Topping out at 11 inches long, Texas blind snakes are also called thread snakes. They are actually blind and live their entire lives underground, hunting earthworms. In fact, you might find one and think it’s a worm at first.