Description: The sharp-tailed snake has an average total length (including tail) of 12 to 18 inches as an adult. It is distinguished by its sharp tail spine, which is the protruding tip of the last tail vertebra. The spine is not toxic and cannot injure humans. Rather, the tail is used to stabilize small prey, such as slugs, for consumption. The dorsal surface ranges in color from grayish brown to brown to brick red, with bubble-gum pink and peachy-orange specimens occasionally found. The ventral surface is a striking series of black and white crossbars.

Habitat: Habitat includes moist situations in pastures, meadows, oak woodlands, broken chaparral, and the edges of coniferous or hardwood forests; also shrubby rabbitbrush-sagebrush. This snake generally is found under logs, rocks, fallen branches, or other cover. It retreats underground during dry periods.

Range: C. tenuis is distributed through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, as well as British Columbia, Canada: Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia around Victoria, British Columbia, and a newly discovered site in Pemberton, British Columbia.

Found in these States: CA | OR | WA

Diet: The diet of C. tenuis is largely restricted to slugs and eggs of slugs. It sometimes also eats insects and earthworms.

Reproduction: The adult female C. tenuis lays 4 to 16 eggs in the summer, underground or in a burrow. Each hatchling is 3 to 4 inches in total length (including tail).

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of the wide distribution, use of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Taxonomy: