Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus • Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Reptilia, Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Dipsadidae, Genus: Diadophis, Species: D. punctatus
Widely distributed across much of North America, extending from southern Canada through the United States down into parts of central Mexico.
Look up Ring-necked Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Reptilia, Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Dipsadidae, Genus: Diadophis, Species: D. punctatus
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to their wide distribution and generally stable populations, though local populations can face threats from habitat fragmentation and road mortality.
Physical Description
Slender body with smooth scales. The dorsal coloration is uniform grayish-brown or olive, contrasted sharply by a distinct pale yellowish or orange collar directly behind the glossy black or dark slate head. The underside is typically bright yellow or red with dark spots.
Size & Dimensions
Specimens typically range from 25 to 38 cm (10 to 15 inches) in total length, with maximum recorded lengths reaching around 45 to 70 cm (18 to 27 inches). The pictured individual appears to be a smaller adult or sub-adult.
Habitat
Found in a variety of habitats including moist woodlands, rocky hillsides, fields, and along the edges of forests or streams. They prefer areas with abundant ground cover such as logs, rocks, and leaf litter, typically ranging from sea level up to moderate elevations.
Diet & Feeding
Preys primarily on small salamanders, earthworms, frogs, and occasionally small lizards or other small snakes. They are active foragers that search through leaf litter and under cover objects.
Reproduction
Oviparous species that typically mates in the spring or autumn. Females lay clutches of 2 to 10 eggs in underground burrows, rotting logs, or communal nests during early summer, which hatch in late summer.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to their wide distribution and generally stable populations, though local populations can face threats from habitat fragmentation and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Acts as an important mid-level predator in forest ecosystems, helping to regulate populations of invertebrates and small amphibians.
Notable Features
Known for curling their tail tightly to expose the brightly colored underside (red or yellow) as a visual warning signal when threatened.