Yellow-lipped Snake

Rhadinea flavilata, (Cope)

Colouration: Pale reddish-brown above--paler on the sides, which are of a golden tinge. Head darker than the body. A dusky band commences behind the snout, extends to the eye, thence from behind the eye to the angle of the mouth. The upper lip is bright yellow; abdomen immaculate yellow.
Dimensions: Total Length . . . . . 12 inches.
Distribution: A rare species. Occurs from the Atlantic Coast region--North Carolina to Florida--westward to Mississippi.
Habits: Little is known of this snake. It is a secretive reptile and may be found under the bark of decaying logs.

Body moderately slender; head fairly distinct; scales smooth and polished. Tail proportionately long. Scales in 17 rows.

*(Through the courtesy of Dr. Samuel Garman and Mr. Thomas Barbour the writer was able to photograph the head and obtain measurements of this rare snake.)

Length of Tail . . . . . 3 3/4 inches.

Greatest Diameter . . . . . 1/4 inches.

Width of Head . . . . . 1/4 inches.

Length of Head . . . . . 1/2 inches.

The Genus Contia: A number of small snakes are embraced in this genus; some inhabit Asia; four are found in the United States and these are prettily coloured reptiles. With the exception of one species--C. mitis, these snakes have a groove on the rear tooth in the upper jaw. Further investigation of this structure may show them to be related to the Opisthoglyph snakes, but as the groove is very shallow and the presence of attendant glands has not been determined, we will include them, provisionally, among those colubrine serpents that are devoid of a specific secretion to be used in overpowering the prey and specially constructed teeth to inject it.

Scales perfectly smooth, with a satiny lustre, in 13 to 15 rows--with the American species. A loreal plate; one preocular plate; ventral plate divided.