Scientific Name:Storeria dekayi dekayi
Size: 9-13 inches (23-33 cm) in length
PA Status: Abundant
PAHERP Resource: The Dekay’s Brown Snake

Habitat Type:
Dense forest to open grasslands, dry hillsides to marsh borders of ponds and lakes, abandoned human habitats, vacant lots, and other variable habitats. May be found under rocks, logs, boards, or other debris.

Colorations:
Adults:

• The dorsal background color varies from light grey, greyish brown, to dark brown with an occasional reddish tint.
• The dorsal has a light medial stripe bordered by a row of dark brown to black dots on each side.
• The ventral is cream, grey, yellowish brown, to pink.
• The ventral may have 1 or 2 longitudinal rows of small spots on each side.
• The skin between the body scales is black and gives the appearance of molting or rows of dots.
• The head is molted with small black spots.
• There are two dark marks under the eyes that resemble an inverted ”V” and a vertical dark temporal stripe or blotches on the supralabials.
• The nape has a black semi-ring on the side sometimes extending onto the ventral.

Juveniles:

• Uniformed dark brown to black.
• A narrow cream to yellow collar on the neck.

Characteristics:

• Small, moderately stout species.
• Dorsal scales are keeled.

Scale Counts:

• 17 scale rows at midbody
• 112-148 ventral scales
• 36-73 subcaudals scales | 2 rows of subcaudals
• Anal plate is divided
• 2 nasal scales
  
• 0 loreal scales
• 1 preocular scale
• 2 postoculars scales
• 1 + 2 temporal scales
• 7 supralabials
• 7 infralabials

Confused with:

• Ringneck
• Earth Snake

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults

Range Map:

References:

• Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 327-332pp.
• Ernst, Carl H. and Ernst, Evelyn M. ,2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. 320-324pp.

Photo Credits:

• Kyle Loucks
• Rex Everett
• Scott Moser
• Billy Brown
• Rex Everett
• Wayne Fidler