Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis saurita • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Thamnophis, Species: T. saurita
Eastern North America, ranging from Florida north to southern Maine and west to the Great Lakes region and Louisiana.
Look up Ribbon Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Thamnophis, Species: T. saurita
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Threats include habitat loss through wetland drainage, pollution, and road mortality.
Physical Description
Slender body with three distinct light-colored longitudinal stripes (a yellow vertebral stripe and two lateral stripes on the third and fourth scale rows) running down a dark brown or black body. It has a relatively long tail making up about a third of its total length, dark vertical bars on the lips, and a white spot just in front of the eye.
Size & Dimensions
Specimens typically range from 46 to 86 cm (18 to 34 inches) in total length, with slender proportions compared to related garter snakes.
Habitat
Wetlands, marshes, swamps, streamsides, and the edges of ponds or lakes. Highly semi-aquatic, rarely found far from standing or slow-moving water, utilizing thick grassy or shrubby vegetation for cover.
Diet & Feeding
Predominantly feeds on amphibians, including frogs, tadpoles, and salamanders, as well as small fish. Uses an active foraging strategy along water edges.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives live birth). Mates in spring shortly after emerging from hibernation, and females typically give birth to litters ranging from 3 to 20 young in late summer.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Threats include habitat loss through wetland drainage, pollution, and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Acts as an important mid-level predator in wetland ecosystems, helping regulate amphibian populations and serving as prey for larger birds and mammals.
Notable Features
Exceptional agility near water, often escaping by quickly gliding across the water's surface or vanishing into dense shoreline vegetation.