Ring-necked Snake (Formerly Ringneck Snake)NON-VENOMOUS
Other Names: Prairie Ringneck SnakeScientific Name: Diadophis punctatus
Family: Dipsadidae
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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
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
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
