Scientific Name: Thamnophis proximus
Family: Natricidae
Description & Size
- Legless
- No eyelids
- Lacks external ears
- Scales on the back have a ridge in the middle (keeled)
- Single anal scale
- Lightly colored stripe on each side of the snake that runs head to tail on the 3rd and 4th scale rows above the belly scales (ventral scales)
- Lacks black stripes on the lip scales (labial scales)
- Total length: 46.0-123.0 cm (18.1-48.4 in)
- Back color: black or dark brown
- Belly color: white
- Thin orange stripe extending from the head to the tail down the middle of the back
Habitat
- Wet prairies
- Wet meadows
- Edges of permanent bodies of water
- Roadside and agricultural ditches if they hold water for extended periods
Diet
- Amphibians
- Fish
- Insects
- Occasionally small lizards
Range Map
Most common range within the last 50 years and does not include outliers. For more info email dferraro1@unl.edu