Queen Snake
Regina septemvittata • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Regina, Species: Regina septemvittata
Found in eastern and central North America, ranging from western New York and southern Ontario south to the Florida panhandle, and west to Texas and Kansas.
Look up Queen Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Regina, Species: Regina septemvittata
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though localized populations face threats from habitat degradation, water pollution, and the decline of native crayfish populations.
Physical Description
Features a dark brown to olive-gray dorsal coloration with light whitish or yellowish stripes along the lower sides of the body and belly. The scales are heavily keeled, and the head is relatively narrow, blending into the neck.
Size & Dimensions
Typical adults range from 38 to 90 cm (15 to 36 inches) in total length, with females generally growing slightly larger than males. This specimen appears to be an adult of moderate size.
Habitat
Inhabits aquatic environments such as streams, rivers, ponds, and wetlands with rocky substrates, typically requiring clean water with abundant hiding spots like flat rocks or logs.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized feeder that preys almost exclusively on freshly molted crayfish. It actively forages along stream banks and uses tactile and chemical cues to locate hidden or soft-shelled crustaceans.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous species, giving birth to live young. Mating occurs in spring or autumn, and females typically give birth to a litter of 5 to 20 young in late summer.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with other natricine snakes like the Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) or Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis saurita), but distinguished by its specialized preference for crayfish and specific lateral stripe placement.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though localized populations face threats from habitat degradation, water pollution, and the decline of native crayfish populations.
Cultural Significance
Plays an important ecological role as a specialized predator in aquatic food webs, helping to regulate crayfish populations in freshwater ecosystems.
Notable Features
Exhibits a rare dietary specialization among North American snakes, relying almost entirely on freshly molted crayfish, which requires specialized jaw adaptations for handling hard-shelled prey.
Notes
Strike position, under flat metal