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Kirtland's snake
	Kirtland's snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) from southern Indiana
Conservation status
	; Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Clonophis; Cope, 1889
Species:	C. kirtlandii
Binomial name
	Clonophis kirtlandii; (Kennicott, 1856)
Synonyms
	Regina kirtlandii ; Kennicott, 1856; Tropidonotus kirtlandii ; — Garman, 1884; Ischnognathus kirtlandii ; — Jan, 1860; Natrix kirtlandii ; — Cope, 1900; Clonophis kirtlandi ; — H. M. Smith & Brodie, 1982;

Kirtland's snake (Clonophis kirtlandii) is a threatened or endangered (depending on location) North American species of nonvenomous snake of the subfamily Natricinae, of the family Colubridae.^[2] It is the only species in the genus Clonophis.^[3]

Etymology

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

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]

Description

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]

Geographic range

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]

Habitat

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]

Conservation status

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]}

Diet

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]

Defensive behavior

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]

Reproduction

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]

References

^ ^a ^b Hammerson, G.A. (2007). "Clonophis kirtlandii ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T63747A12712865. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63747A12712865.en. Downloaded on 22 March 2020.
^ Species Clonophis kirtlandii at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
^ "Clonophis kirtlandii ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
^ Beltz, Ellin (2006). Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html#K.
^ Beolens, Bo; Michael Watkins; Michael Grayson (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Clonophis kirtlandi, p. 142).
^ Vasile, Ronald S. (Autumn 1994). "The Early Career of Robert Kennicott, Illinois' Pioneering Naturalist". Illinois Historical Journal. 87 (3): 165. JSTOR 40192718.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Wright, A.H., and A.A. Wright (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes) (Natrix kirtlandi, pp. 496–499, Figure 146 + Map 40 on p. 491).
^ Boulenger, G.A. (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I.–XXVIII. (Ischnognathus kirtlandii, p. 286).
^ ^a ^b Conant, R. (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1–48.
ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Natrix kirtlandi, p. 151 + Plate 22 + Map 106).
^ Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie Jr. (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3.
(Clonophis kirtlandi, pp. 156–157).
^ ^a ^b ^c U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2017). Species status assessment report for Kirtland’s snake (Clonophis kirtlandii). 43 pp.
^ Life Science Weekly (2020). Exploration of Environmental DNA (eDNA) to Detect Kirtland's Snake
^ Indiana Legislative Services Agency (2011), "312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians", Indiana Administrative Code, retrieved 28 Apr 2012.
^ Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
^ Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Natrix kirtlandii, pp. 209–210 + Plate 22, Center, on p. 342).
^ "Clonophis kirtlandii - Kirtland's Snake". USA Snakes. 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2020-10-22.