Kirtland's snake

The specific name, kirtlandii, is in honor of Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland, an American naturalist of the nineteenth century.^[4][5] The snake was first identified by Robert Kennicott in 1855. Kennicott sent a specimen to Spencer Fullerton Baird, the assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, who offered to publish a description of the animal in Kennicott's name. Baird suggested Regina kirtlandii as a scientific name, as Kirtland had been a mentor to Kennicott.^[6]

Common names for C. kirtlandii include: Cora Kennicott's snake, Kirtland's red snake, Kirtland's water snake, little red snake, Ohio Valley water snake, and spread head.^[7]

Kirtland's snake is small and slender. Adults reach a total length (including tail) of 12-18 inches (30–46 cm). It is grayish brown with a double series of large black spots down the back, and alternating smaller spots running down each side.^[8] The ventral scales are brick red with a prominent round black spot at each outer end.^[9] It has 19 rows of keeled dorsal scales at midbody, and the anal plate is divided.^[10]

Clonophis kirtlandii is currently known to occur in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, southern Michigan, northeastern Missouri, Ohio, and northwestern Tennessee.^[9][11] Clonophis kirtlandii was historically known from Western Pennsylvania, but it has not been documented in the state since 1966.^[11]

The preferred natural habitats of C. kirtlandii are forest, grassland, and wetlands^[1] such as swamps and marshes. It is almost always found very close to a water source, even though it is less aquatic than water snakes of the genus Nerodia which share its geographic range.^[7] Field studies have shown that populations are found within areas with abundant grass, herbaceous vegetation, and shrubs during the spring season. ^[12]

The species Clonophis kirtlandii is listed as endangered in Indiana,^[13] Michigan, and Pennsylvania.^[14] It is listed as threatened in Illinois and Ohio, though current research in Ohio is leaning towards the snake being listed as vulnerable.^{[citation needed]}

Kirtland's snake preys primarily on earthworms, slugs, minnows, salamanders, frogs, and toads.^[7] It has also been found to prey on juvenile crayfish, earthworms, slugs, small minnows, and leeches. ^[11]

When alarmed C. kirtlandii flattens its entire body to a remarkable thinness, and becomes rigid.^[15] Kirtland's snake will also coil up into a disc the size of about a quarter in an attempt to hide from potential threats. If this does not succeed, it will then flee instead of fight.^{[citation needed]}

No person on record has ever been bitten by a Kirtland's snake. This species prefers intimidation, hiding, and fleeing rather than any form of fighting.^[16]

Kirtland's snake is ovoviviparous. Females give birth in August and September. Brood size varies from 4 to 22. Each newborn is 13–17 cm (5–6¾ in.) in total length and averages 1.4 gm in weight.^[7]