worm snake
worm snake Lexical Profile
• noun
North American Any of several small, harmless, burrowing snakes, particularly those of the North American genus Carphophis, characterized by a slender, glossy, brownish or pink body that closely resembles an earthworm in appearance and subterranean habitat.
"While turning over damp logs in the forest, the ecology students discovered a tiny worm snake burrowing into the soft soil."
A common name broadly applied to various blind, subterranean snakes globally, such as those in the family Typhlopidae, which share the small, eyeless, worm-like characteristics suited for a burrowing lifestyle.
"Many species of worm snake are so well adapted to underground life that their eyes are merely vestigial spots beneath their scales."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive compound of 'worm' and 'snake', named for the reptile's small, cylindrical shape, smooth scales, and often pinkish-brown coloration, which make it visually resemble an earthworm.