Praire Ringneck

Other Names: Ring-necked Snake
Scientific Name: Diadophis punctatus
Family: Dipsadidae

Description & Size

• Legless
• No eyelids
• Lacks external ears
• Scales on the back are smooth and glossy
• Total length: 25.0-41.9 cm (9.8-16.5 in)
• Back color: olive green, brown, or greenish-gray
• Belly color: red, orange, or yellow
• Orange or red ring around its neck
• Tail is brightly colored on the bottom

Life History

• Nocturnal
• Active season: Late March – October
• Breeding season: Late March – early April
• Lays eggs
• 1-2 clutches of 2-10 eggs per female

Habitat

• Open woodlands with rocky outcrops
• Woodland edges
• Debris piles in rural, suburban, and urban environments
• Grasslands

Diet

• Earthworms
• Small arthropods
• Small reptiles
• Small amphibians