RING-NAKED SNAKE (Diadophis punctatus)

The ringneck snake or ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) is a colubrid snake species. It is found throughout much of the United States, central Mexico, and south eastern Canada[2]. Ring-necked snakes are secretive, nocturnal snakes that are rarely seen during the day time. They are slightly venomous but their non-aggressive nature and small rear-facing fangs pose little threat to humans who wish to handle them. They are best known for their unique defense posture of curling up their tails exposing their bright red-orange posterior, ventral surface when threatened. Ring-necked snakes are believed to be fairly abundant throughout most of their range though no scientific evaluation supports this theory. Scientific research is lacking for the ring-necked snake and more in-depth investigations are greatly needed[3]. It is the only species within the genus Diadophis, and currently fourteen subspecies are identified, but many herpetologists question the morphologically-based classifications[4].
The Northern Ringneck Snake is a smallish snake, only growing up to two feet long. It is bluish-black in color, with a yellow or red ring around its neck, and a matching belly. This snake has a large, flat head.Northern Ringneck Snakes live just about anywhere, including forests, grassy places, and streamsides.They usually hide under logs, rocks, leaf litter, or matted plants.They are nocturnal, so they are mostly seen at night.

                                                                                  

  Physical description

Ring-necked snakes are fairly similar in morphology throughout much of their distribution.

Dorsal coloration is solid olive, brown, bluish gray to black, broken only by a distinct yellow, red, or yellow-orange neck band[2][5]. There are a few populations in New Mexico, Utah, and other distinct locations that do not have the distinctive neck band[2]. Additionally individuals may have a reduced or partially colored neck band that is hard to distinguish; coloration may also be more of a cream color rather than bright orange or red[5]. Head coloration tends to be slightly darker than the rest of the body with tendencies to be blacker than grey or olive[5]. Ventrally the snakes exhibit a yellow-orange to red coloration broken by crescent shaped black spots along the margins[2]. Sometimes individuals lack the distinct ventral coloration but typically retain the black spotting[5]. Rarely do individuals lack both the ventral or neck band coloration so use of those two characteristics are the most simple way to distinguish the species[2].

Size also varies across the species distribution. Typically adults measure 25-38 cm (10-15 inches)[2], except for D. punctatus regalis which measures 38-46 cm (15-18 inches)[5]. First year juvenile snakes are typically about 20 cm (4 inches) and grow about 2-5 cm (¾-2 inches) a year depending on the developmental stage or resource availability[5].

Ring-necked snakes have smooth scales with 15-17 scale rows at mid body[2]. Males typically have small tubercles on their scales just anterior to the vent which are usually absent in females[2].

Habitat

Ring-necked snakes occur in a wide variety of habitats. Preference seems to be determined by areas with abundant cover and denning locations spaces[5]. Northern and western species are found within open woodlands near rocky hillsides, or in wetter environments with abundant cover or woody debris[2]. Southern species exist primarily within riparian and wet environments, especially in more arid habitats[5]. Stebbins (2003) identified the species as a snake of moist habitats, identifying that moist soil conditions were the preferred substrate[2]. Ring-necked snakes are also not found above an elevation of 2200 meters[2]. In northern regions, dens are also important in identifying suitable ring-necked snake habitat. Dens are usually shared communally[5], and are identifiable by an existent subsurface crevasse or hole that is deep enough to prevent freezing temperatures. Since it is a woodland reptile, it can commonly also be found under wood or scraps. Because of the hot weather, they tend to make holes and burrow or they decide to hide under rocks or any suitable material. They are normally found in flatland forests.

Behavior
The diet of the ring-necked snake consists primarily of smaller salamanders, lizards, frogs, earthworms, and some juvenile snakes of other species[5]. The frequency at which prey species are chosen is dependent on their availability within the habitat[5]. Ring-necked snakes use a combination of constriction and envenomation to secure their prey. The snakes do not have a true venom gland, but they do have an analogous structure called the Duvernoy’s gland derived from the same tissue[3]. Most subspecies are rear-fanged with the last maxillary teeth on both sides of the upper jaw being longer and channeled[3]; the notable exception is D. punctatus edwardsii which is fangless[5]. The venom is produced in the Duvernoy's gland located directly behind the eye[3]. It then drains out of an opening at the rear of the maxillary tooth[3]. Ring-necked snakes first strike and then secure the prey using constriction. Next they maneuver their mouths forward ensuring that the last maxillary tooth punctures the skin allowing the venom to enter the prey's tissue[3]. Ring-necked snakes are rarely aggressive to larger predators suggesting that their venom evolved as a feeding strategy rather than a defense strategy. Rather than trying to bite a predator, the snake winds up its tail into a corkscrew, exposing the brightly colored belly[5].

Ring-necked snakes are primarily nocturnal or highly crepuscular, though some diurnal activity has been observed[5]. Individuals are sometimes found during the day, especially on cloudy days, sunning themselves to gain heat[5]. Yet, most individuals lie directly under surface objects that are warmed in the sun and use conduction with that object to gain heat[5]. Even though ring-necked snakes are highly secretive, they do display some social structure; but the exact social hierarchies have never been evaluated[5]. Many populations have been identified to have large colonies of more than 100 individuals, and some reports identify that some smaller colonies occupy the same microhabitats[5].

Reproduction
Ring-necked snakes usually mate in the spring. However, in some subspecies mating occurs in the fall, and delayed implantation occurs.[5]. Females attract males by secreting pheromones from their skin[5]. Once the male finds a female he starts by rubbing his closed mouth along the female’s body[5]. Then the male bites the female around her neck ring maneuvering to align their bodies so sperm can be inserted into the female’s vent[5]. Females lay their eggs in loose aerated soils under a rock or in a rotted log[4]. Three to ten eggs are deposited in early summer and hatch in August or September[5]. The egg is elongate with a white color contrasted by yellow ends[5]. When hatched, juveniles are precocial and fend for themselves without parental care[5].

Distribution
Ring-necked snakes are fairly common throughout much of the United States extending into Southeastern Canada and central Mexico. Eastern populations cover the entire eastern seaboard from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence continuous through the gulf coast of north Texas[5]. Distribution moves inland into northern Minnesota continuing diagonally through the US to include all of Iowa, eastern Nebraska, and most of Kansas[5]. In the western US the distribution is significantly less continuous, with spotty distinct population segments through most of the Pacific Northwest[2]. Populations extend from south-central Washington continuing along the extreme west coast into Mexico[2]. Population segments extend inland into western Idaho, through southern Nevada, into central Utah, and continuing south through Arizona and central Mexico[2

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A black rat snake

The Western ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus) — also called black rat snake, pilot black snake, or simply black snake[2] — is a nonvenomous colubrid species found in North America. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Elaphe obsoleta - A black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta and Pantherophis obsoletus)

Description

Adults can become quite large and are known to reach up to eight feet, being the largest snake found in Canada. The record length is 101 inches (2.6 m), making it (officially) the longest snake in North America. Unofficially, indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi) are known to exceed them, and one wild caught pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) with a portion of its tail missing measured 111 inches (2.8 m).[citation needed]

Juveniles are strongly patterned with brown blotches on a gray background (like miniature fox snakes). Darkening occurs rapidly as they grow. Adults are glossy black above with white lips, chin, and throat. Sometimes traces of the "obsolete" juvenile pattern are still discernible in the skin between the scales, especially when stretched after a heavy meal.

Geographic range

The black rat snake is found throughout the Eastern and Central United States. In Canada it is found in lower Ontario. It is found in northeast United States, in particular New Jersey(northern), New York(eastern) and Vermont(southern).

Preferred habitat

It prefers heavily wooded areas and is known for having excellent climbing ability, including the ability to climb the trunk of large mature trees without the aid of branches. The black rat snake is a competent swimmer but usually (not always) uses this ability only to travel to additional hunting territory. During winter it hibernates in dens, often with copperheads and timber rattlesnakes. This association gave rise to the common name, pilot black snake, and the superstition that this nonvenomous species led the venomous ones to the den.

Behavior
When startled, they may freeze and wrinkle themselves into a series of kinks. If they feel further threatened, they may flee quickly or vibrate their tails in dead leaves (a form of mimicry, which makes them sound like rattlesnakes). They are also capable of producing a foul smelling musk which they will release onto a predator if picked up. They spread the musk with their tail in hopes of deterring the threat

Reproduction
Mating takes place in late May and early June. The male snake wraps its tail around the female with their vents nearly touching. The male then everts one of its sex organs, a hemipenis, into the female sex organ, cloaca. The mating lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. After five weeks the female lays about 12 to 20 eggs, which are 36–60 mm (1.4-2 in.) long by 20-26.5 mm (0.8-1.1 in.) wide. The eggs hatch about 65 to 70 days later in late August to early October.[9] The hatchlings are 28–41 cm (11-16 in.) in total length,[10] and they look like miniature fox snakes.

Pantherophis obsoletus, Chatham County, North Carolina

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texas long-nosed snake

A Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus (a snake).

Description

A tricolor subspecies, its color pattern consists of a cream-colored or white body, overlaid with black blotches and red between the black. It gives them an appearance vaguely similar to that of a venomous coral snake, Micrurus tener or Micruroides euryxanthus. They have an elongated snout, which gives them their common name. They grow to approximately 30 inches (76 cm) in length; record 41 inches (104 cm).[1] In some western localities their red coloration can be greatly reduced, giving them a black and white banded appearance, and other localities the red appears more orange or even pink in color. They differ from all other harmless snakes in the United States by having undivided subcaudal plates.

Behavior

The Texas long-nosed snake is a shy, nocturnal burrowing subspecies.

Diet

It feeds on lizards and amphibians, sometimes smaller snakes and, infrequently, rodents.
 
Reproduction
Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus is oviparous, laying clutches of 4-9 eggs in the early summer, which hatch out in the late summer, or early fall.

Conservation status

This subspecies holds no federal conservation status and no status through most of its range, but it is considered to be vulnerable in Kansas and Oklahoma, and critically endangered in Colorado. Primary threats are from habitat destruction.

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Morelia viridis(green tree snake)

Morelia viridis, the green tree python, is a species of python found in New Guinea, islands in Indonesia, and Cape York Peninsula in Australia.

Morelia viridis

Description

Adults average 120–200 cm (3.9–6.6 ft) in length, with a maximum length (although rare) of about 7 feet. The supralabial scales have thermoreceptive pits.[2]

A mostly arboreal species with a striking green or yellow color in adults, the color pattern on this species can vary dramatically from locality to locality. For example, the Aru local is a vivid green with a broken vertebral stripe of white or dull yellow scales, the Sorong local is a bright green with blue highlights and a solid vertical stripe, and the Kofiau local is mostly yellow with varying highlights in white or blue. Cyanomorphs (blue morphs) are also known to occur but are not considered common at this time.[2] Juveniles are polymorphic, occurring in reddish, bright yellow and orange morphs.

Morelia viridis. Morph

neonate morelia viridis

Geographic range
Found in Indonesia (Misool, Salawati, Aru Islands, Schouten Islands, most of Western New Guinea), Papua New Guinea (including nearby islands from sea level to 1,800 m elevation, Normanby Island and the d'Entrecasteaux Islands) and Australia (Queensland along the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula). The type locality given is "Aroe-eilanden" (Aru Islands, Indonesia).[1]

This species is sympatric with M. spilota and the two often compete in the same ecological niche.

Habitat

Its main habitat is in rainforests, bushes, shrubs and trees.

Conservation
The largest threat to the species is habitat destruction due to logging of forests.

Behavior

Primarily arboreal, these snakes have a particular way of resting in the branches of trees; they loop a coil or two over the branches in a saddle position and place their head in the middle. This trait is shared with the emerald tree boa, Corallus caninus, of South America. This habit, along with their appearance, has caused people to confuse the two species when seen outside their natural habitat.

Reproduction

Oviparous, with 1-25 viable eggs per clutch. In the wild eggs are incubated and protected by the female, often in the hollow of a tree. Hatchlings are lemon yellow with broken stripes and spots of purple and brown, or golden or orange/red. Over time the color changes as the animal matures, color of the adult depends on the locality of the animal (some taking many years to finish color change).

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RAINFOREST SNAKES...

As rainforests are so rich in biodiversity with the presence of favourable conditions such as warmth and water, it is no surprise that snakes in general are found in their greatest numbers in the tropical areas of the Earth. (1)

GREEN SNAKE

We’ve even encountered a mention of the fact that “…most large amphibians and reptiles are today exclusively tropical in distribution”. (2)

As a significant part of the wildlife of tropical forests around the world, snakes have an impact on other animals both as predators and prey. (3)

Out of around 2,700 species of snakes in the world, only 1/5 th are venomous; the rest are not. (4)

Without trying to put an exact figure on it, we would assume that rainforests house a similar proportion of venomous and non-venomous snakes.

Learn more about some fascinating Snake Facts here.

Snakes use most types of habitats in a rainforest – most of them live on and under the ground but some of them also inhabit trees and water sources. (5)

Rainforest snakes are carnivores. They employ several ways of attacking other animals. Non-venomous snakes can either pin their prey to the ground or “constrict” them which means that they wrap their own bodies around them in a coil and squeeze them until the victim dies. Venomous snakes normally inject venom into their prey. (6)

Boas (such as anacondas, boa constrictors and pythons) are probably some of the most popular rainforest snakes.

Amazon Snakes

The Amazon forest – the largest tropical rainforest of the world – is home to a great variety of snakes.

As some authors mention: “… snakes appear to be the single most diverse reptile group in the Amazon Basin, where more than 175 snake species have been described”.
The floodplains house a large number of all the reptile species found in the Amazon Basin, and though many species of snakes inhabiting the Amazonian floodplains are aquatic the majority of them are most likely arboreal. Many Amazonian snakes, such as boas, pit vipers and some colubrids, move to live in the forest’s trees during floods. 

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CORN SNAKES

The Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus), or Red Rat Snake, is a North American species of Rat Snake that subdues its small prey by constriction.[1] The name "Corn Snake" is a holdover from the days when southern farmers stored harvested ears of corn in a wood frame or log building called a crib. Rats and mice came to the corn crib to feed on the corn, and Corn Snakes came to feed on the rodents.[2] The Oxford English Dictionary cites this usage as far back as 1676. Corn Snakes are found throughout the southeastern and central United States. Their docile nature, reluctance to bite, moderate adult size 3.9–5.9 feet (1.2–1.8 m), attractive pattern, and comparatively simple care make them popular pet snakes. In the wild, they usually live around 6–8 years, but in captivity can live to be up to 23 years old.

Natural habitat
Wild Corn Snakes prefer habitats such as overgrown fields, forest openings, trees, palmetto flatwoods and abandoned or seldom-used buildings and farms, from sea level to as high as 6,000 feet. Typically, these snakes remain on the ground, but can ascend trees, cliffs and other elevated surfaces.[8] They can be found in the southeastern United States ranging from New Jersey to the Florida keys and as far west as Texas.

In colder regions, snakes hibernate during winter. However, in the more temperate climate along the coast they shelter in rock crevices and logs during cold weather, and come out on warm days to soak up the heat of the sun, a process known as brumation.[9] During cold weather, snakes are less active and therefore hunt less.

A Corn Snake swallowing a small rat

Diet
Corn Snakes have a diet primarily consisting of rodents, mostly mice and rats. Prey is killed by constriction. They are proficient climbers and may scale trees in search of birds and bats although they prefer to be on ground level. As litters of infant mice are difficult to find in nature, many neonate Corn Snakes are known to eat small lizards as their first meals, and anoles are the preferred choice.[10] Some individuals retain these dietary tendencies well into adulthood.

Captive Corn Snakes are usually fed by their owners on a diet of commercially available rodents, predominantly mice, while younger and smaller specimens may eat live or dead rat or mouse pups of various sizes. Frozen "pinkies" (baby mice) that have been warmed in hot tap water for 10-15 minutes are ideal for baby corn snakes. As the snake grows, the size of the prey grows.

 

Baby Corn Snakes hatching from their eggs

Reproduction
Corn Snakes usually breed shortly after the winter cooling. The male courts the female primarily with tactile and chemical cues, then everts one of his hemipenes, inserts it into the female, and ejaculates his sperm. If the female is ovulating, the eggs will be fertilized, and she will begin sequestering nutrients into the eggs, then secreting a shell.

Egg-laying occurs slightly more than a month after mating, with 12–24 eggs deposited into a warm, moist, hidden location. Once laid the adult snake abandons the eggs and does not return to them. The eggs are oblong with a leathery, flexible shell. Approximately 10 weeks after laying, the young snakes use a specialized scale called an egg tooth to slice slits in the egg shell, from which they emerge at about 5 inches in length.

Anerythristic A Corn Snake

Amelanistic Stripe Corn Snake

"Opal" phase Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

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MILK SNEKES

The milk snake or milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum; French: Couleuvre tachetée; Spanish: Culebra-real coralillo, Lithuanian: Pieninė gyvatė)[1] is a species of king snake. There are 25 subspecies among the milk snakes, including the commonly named scarlet kingsnake (L. t. elapsoides).[1] The subspecies have strikingly different appearance, and many of them have their own common names. Some authorities suggest that this species may be split into several separate species

red milk snake Lampropeltis triangulum syspila

Description
Milk snakes grow 20 to 60 inches (51 to 150 cm) long.[1] They have smooth and shiny scales and their typical color pattern is alternating bands of red-black-yellow or white-black-red. [1] However, red blotches instead of bands are seen in some populations.[1] Some milk snakes have a striking resemblance to coral snakes and this mimicry (known as Batesian mimicry) likely scares away potential predators. While both milk snakes and coral snakes possess transverse bands of red, black and yellow, a common mnemonic can be used to properly distinguish between the deadly coral snake and the harmless milk snake:

        "Red on yellow will kill a fellow, but red on black is a friend of Jack."
        "Red on yellow, deadly fellow; Red on black, venom lack."
        " Red and yellow will kill you fellow; Red and black is friend Jack."
        "Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, you're alright Jack."
        "Red next to black is a friend of Jack; red next to yellow will kill a fellow."
        "Red to yellow, kill a fellow. Red to black, venom lack."
        "If red touches black, you're okay Jack; if red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow."
        "Red next to black, you can pat him on the back; red next to yellow, he can kill a fellow."
        "Red next to black, venom I lack; red next to yellow, run away fellow."
        "Red and black, friend of Jack; red and yellow kill a fellow."
        "Red touches yellow, Not a nice fellow; if red touches black, good friend of jack."
        "Red touch yellow, kill a fellow; red touch black, you're okay Jack."

juvenile Eastern milk snake

However, the Eastern milk snake (L. t. triangulum) does not resemble a coral snake; instead it tends to have similar markings to that of several other snakes, particularly the fox snake, scarlet snake and most importantly, the Massassauga rattlesnake. Milk, fox, and scarlet snakes are killed because of a resemblance to the venomous rattlesnake. Juvenile milk snakes, which are more reddish than adults, are often killed because they are mistaken for copperheads. There is enough distinction among the five to make the Eastern milk snake fairly easy to identify. Eastern milk snakes also have a light colored v-shaped or y-shaped patch on their neck. One subspecies is melanistic (almost all black).

juvenile Eastern milk snake

Geographic range

They are distributed from southeastern Canada, through most of the continental United States, to Central America, down to western Ecuador and northern Venezuela of northern South America.

Habitat

Across the wide range of this species, habitat varies. Typically, milk snakes live in forested regions, however, in some regions they can be located in open prairies. In various parts across its distribution, milk snakes often abide in rocky slopes.[1]


Behavior
Milk snake activity is mostly nocturnal. They are primarily terrestrial, except the scarlet kingsnake which is known to take shelter under the bark of standing dead trees. They also try to blend in with dead leaves.

Diet

Young milk snakes typically eat slugs, insects, crickets, and earthworms.[3] Adult diet frequently includes lizards (especially skinks), and small mammals.[1] They are also known to eat birds and their eggs, frogs, fish, and other snakes.[3]

Milk snakes are much more opportunistic eaters than the fox snake or corn snake. They have been known to consume a variety of animals including rodents, eggs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Nevertheless the diet of an adult milk snake still primarily consists of rodents. They are nocturnal eaters and are often found during the day in old barns and under wood.

An early myth about milk snakes is that they suck cow udders to get the milk. The myth is entirely false, and is discredited by the fact that the milk snake does not have the physical capabilities to suck milk out of a cow. Milk snakes are, however, frequently found in and around barns, making use of their cool and dark environments, and for the easily accessed populations of rodents to feed on. This proximity to barns, and therefore cows, probably gave rise to the myth

Mexican Milk Snake, L. t. annulata

 

 

Reproduction

Milk snakes are oviparous, laying an average of about 10 eggs per clutch, although that number may vary by region.[1] The milk snake mates from early May[3] to late June. In June and July, the female lays three to twenty-four eggs beneath logs, boards, rocks, and rotting vegetation.[3] The eggs incubate for approximately two months, and hatch around August or September.[3] Milk snakes typically live around twelve years.

Conservation status
The milk snake is not listed by the IUCN (a wildlife conservation union), but in some areas, they may face significant pressure due to pet trade collection.[1] Because this species' high value in the pet trade, many subspecies are now being bred in captivity for sale.

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