{{Short description|Species of snake}} {{Speciesbox | image = Contia longicaudae.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{cite iucn |author=Hammerson, G.A. |year=2019 |title=''Contia longicauda'' |article-number=e.T90066834A90066849 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T90066834A90066849.en |language=en}}</ref> | status2 = G4 | status2_system = TNC | status2_ref = <ref name="NatureServe">{{cite NatureServe |title=''Contia longicaudae'' |id=2.843986 |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref> | taxon = Contia longicauda | authority = Feldman & Hoyer, 2010<ref name=FeldmanHoyer>{{Cite journal|last1=Feldman |first1=CR |last2=Hoyer |first2=RF |doi=10.1643/CH-09-129|title=A New Species of Snake in the Genus ''Contia'' (Squamata: Colubridae) from California and Oregon|journal=Copeia|volume=2010|issue=2|pages=254–267|year=2010|s2cid=44218937}} (''Contia longicaudae'', new species).</ref> | synonyms = {{species list |Contia longicaudae |Feldman & Hoyer, 2010 |Contia longicauda |Crother et al., 2012 |Contia longicauda |Wallach et al., 2014 }} | synonyms_ref = <ref name=RDB/> }}

The '''forest sharp-tailed snake''' ('''''Contia longicaudae''''') is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the western coast of the United States.<ref name=RDB>{{NRDB species|genus=Contia|species=longicaudae|accessdate=21 May 2013}}</ref>

==Geographic range== ''C. longicaudae'' is found in northern California and southern Oregon.<ref name=RDB/>

==Distribution and habitat== The forest sharp-tailed snake is not as widespread as its relative ''Contia tenuis'' (the sharp-tailed snake). The forest sharp-tailed snake is found in shaded wet forests along the western coast of the United States. The forest sharp-tailed snake went unnoticed for a long time due to its vast similarities to ''C. tenuis'', the secretive nature of both species of sharp-tailed snakes, and their seasonally limited amount of activity.<ref name=FeldmanHoyer/>

==Identification== The easiest way to set the two species apart is by looking at the tail length and the subcaudal scales. The forest sharp-tailed snake has a longer tail than ''Contia tenuis'' and more subcaudal scales. Specifically, the forest sharp-tailed snake has 43 to 58 subcaudal scales, whereas ''Contia tenuis'' has 24 to 42.<ref name=RDB/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2995647}}

Category:Contia (snake) Category:Reptiles described in 2010 Category:Endemic reptiles of the United States

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