{{Short description|Species of snake}} {{For|the sharp-tailed snake genus in the Colubridae|Contia (snake)}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2016}} {{Speciesbox | image = Contia tenuis (San Luis Obispo).jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status2 = G5 | status2_system = TNC | status2_ref = <ref name="NatureServe">{{cite web|title=Contia tenuis|url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.843987/Contia_tenuis|website=NatureServe Explorer|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref> | taxon = Contia tenuis | authority = (Baird & Girard,1852) | synonyms = *''Calamaria tenuis'' <br />{{small|Baird & Girard, 1852}} *''Contia mitis'' <br />{{small|Baird & Girard, 1853}} *''Ablabes purpureocauda'' <br />{{small|Günther, 1858}} *''Homolosoma mite'' <br />{{small|— Jan, 1862}} *''Lodia tenuis'' <br />{{small|— Cope, 1898}} *''Contia tenuis'' <br />{{small|— Stejneger & Barbour, 1917}} | synonyms_ref = <ref>Boulenger GA (1894). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ''. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (''Contia mitis'', pp. 267-268).</ref><ref>Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). ''A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (''Contia tenuis'', p. 91).</ref><ref>{{EMBL species|genus=Contia|species=tenuis}}. www.reptile-database.org.</ref> | range_map = Contia tenuis distribution.png | range_map_caption = }}

The '''sharp-tailed snake''' or '''sharptail snake''' ('''''Contia tenuis''''') is a small species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Western United States and British Columbia.

==Common names== Additional common names for ''C. tenuis'' include brown snake, gentle brown snake, Oregon worm snake, Pacific brown snake, Pacific ground snake, and purple-tailed snake.<ref>Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in two volumes). (''Contia tenuis'', pp. 156–160, Figure 49, Map 18).</ref>

==Geographic 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,<ref>"Sharp-tailed Snake". The Reptiles of British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Environment. www.bcreptiles.ca. [http://www.bcreptiles.ca/snakes/sharptail.htm]</ref> in Pemberton, British Columbia <ref>Atkinson, Cathryn (2013). "Rare snakes found in Pemberton: Proposed Pemberton development area home to snakes on federal list of species at risk". ''Pique''. August 15, 2013. www.piquenewsmagazine.com. [http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/rare-snakes-found-in-pemberton/Content?oid=2468504]</ref><ref>South Coast Conservation Program Regional Dialogues on Land Use Planning for Species and Ecosystems at Risk. Proceedings Fall 2013. [http://sccp.ca/sites/default/files/species-habitat/documents/sear%20lg%20sc%20Dialogue%20Session%20Summaries1.pdf]</ref> and newly discovered in 2026 on Lasqueti Island, British Columbia<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=Jeff |date=2026-05-17 |title=Rare endangered snake discovered on Lasqueti Island for first time |url=https://cheknews.ca/rare-endangered-snake-discovered-on-lasqueti-island-for-first-time-1325054/ |access-date=2026-05-19 |website=CHEK |language=en-CA}}</ref>.

==Description== The sharp-tailed snake has an average total length (including tail) of {{convert|12|-|18|in|cm|abbr=on}} 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.<ref name=Steb>Stebbins RC (2003). ''A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition''. The Peterson Field Guide Series ®. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. xiii + 533 pp., 56 plates. {{ISBN|978-0-395-98272-3}}. (''Contia tenuis'', pp. 346–347 + Plate 46 + Map 134).</ref>

==Behavior== The sharp-tailed snake is a shy, secretive creature most often encountered under rocks and logs, and rarely to never found in the open.<ref name=Steb/> It is able to persist in urban areas where appropriate cover can be found. It is known to burrow into soft soil or cracks in the clay, and may be encountered by people who are digging in the garden or removing concrete. When encountered, the sharp-tailed snake may roll into a ball and remain still. It can be mistaken for a worm by the casual observer.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

==Diet== The diet of ''C. tenuis'' is largely restricted to slugs and eggs of slugs. It sometimes also eats insects and earthworms.<ref name=Steb/>

==Reproduction== The adult female ''C. tenuis'' lays 4–16 eggs in the summer, underground or in a burrow. Each hatchling is {{convert|3|-|4|in|cm|abbr=on}} in total length (including tail).{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

== See also == * Contia longicaudae commonly called the Forest sharp-tailed snake

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/63766/0 ''Contia tenuis''] - Description, Risk Status. *[http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.tenuis.html#taxonomy ''Contia tenuis'' - Sharp-tailed Snake] - Description, Pictures.

==Further reading== *Baird SF, Girard C (1852). "Descriptions of new species of Reptiles, collected by the U. S. Exploring Expedition under the command of Capt. Charles Wilkes, U. S. N. First part.—Including the species from the Western coast of America". ''Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia'' '''6''': 174–177. (''Calamaria tenuis'', new species, p.&nbsp;176). *Baird SF, Girard CF (1853). ''Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpents.'' Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xvi + 172 pp. (''Contia mitis'', new species, pp.&nbsp;110–111). *Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). ''Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp., 34 plates, 103 figures. (''Contia tenuis'', pp.&nbsp;196–197, Figure 62). *Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). ''Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification''. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. {{ISBN|0-307-13666-3}} (paperback), {{ISBN|0-307-47009-1}} (hardcover). (''Contia tenuis'', pp.&nbsp;162–163). *Zim HS, Smith HM (1956). ''Reptiles and Amphibians: A Guide to Familiar American Species: A Golden Nature Guide''. Revised Edition. New York: Simon and Schuster. 160 pp. (''Contia tenuis'', pp.&nbsp;79–80, 156).

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2060563}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp-Tailed Snake}} Category:Contia (snake) Category:Snakes of North America Category:Reptiles of Canada Category:Reptiles of the United States Category:Reptiles described in 1852 Category:Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird Category:Taxa named by Charles Frédéric Girard