Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata • Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Natricinae; Genus: Storeria; Species: Storeria occipitomaculata
Venomous Status
Non-venomous; lacks fangs and specialized venom glands.
Danger Level
Harmless. These snakes are not aggressive and their small mouth renders them incapable of delivering a significant bite to a human.
Geographic Range
Widespread throughout eastern North America, from the Canadian Maritimes and southern Quebec west to Saskatchewan, and south to Florida and the Gulf Coast. This specimen exhibits coloration typical of the northern or central subspecies.
Conservation Status
IUCN status: Least Concern. Generally common, though susceptible to habitat loss and fragmentation of forest floors.
Physical Description
Small, slender snake with a dark brown to grayish-black dorsal coloration. It features a prominent orange-to-red mid-dorsal stripe (often visible in 'northern' variants like this one) and a bright red or orange underside. It typically has three light spots on the nape of the neck just behind the head. Scales are keeled; the head is relatively small and distinct from the neck; eyes are medium-sized with round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen shown appears to be an adult, approximately 20-30 cm in length. The species typically ranges from 20 to 32 cm (8-11 inches), with a maximum record of about 40 cm.
Habitat
Commonly found in moist woodland environments, forest edges, meadows, and boggy areas. They are primarily fossorial or secretive, spending much time under surface debris like logs, rocks, or leaf litter. They thrive in elevations from sea level to mountainous terrain.
Behavior & Temperament
Secretive, docile, and non-aggressive. When threatened, they may flatten their bodies or curl their upper lip (labial flair) to appear larger, but they rarely bite. They are primarily crepuscular or nocturnal, especially in hot weather.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized diet consisting almost entirely of slugs and snails. They use specialized tooth structures to extract snails from their shells. They are active foragers in moist leaf litter.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Litters typically range from 4 to 15 neonates, usually born in late summer (August or September).
Venom Profile
Venom Type
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom. Saliva may contain very mild digestive enzymes but is harmless to humans.
AI-generated — see a qualified source if acting on this. For any snakebite, call emergency services immediately.
Look-alikes
Often confused with the Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi), which has two rows of dark spots instead of a red belly, and the Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), which is much larger with differently arranged stripes.
Conservation Status
IUCN status: Least Concern. Generally common, though susceptible to habitat loss and fragmentation of forest floors.
Cultural Significance
Valued by gardeners and farmers as a beneficial species due to its specialized diet of slugs and snails, which can be agricultural pests. They play a vital role as intermediate predators in forest floor ecosystems.
Notable Features
Features a unique 'lip-curling' defensive display where it peels back its upper labial scales. Also notable for its striking color contrast between the drab dorsal scales and the vibrant red underside used as a startle display for predators.