Eastern Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis saurita • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Thamnophis, Species: T. saurita
Eastern North America, ranging from southern Maine and southern Ontario southward to Florida, and westward to Louisiana and Tennessee.
Look up Eastern 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, though localized populations face threats from wetland drainage, habitat fragmentation, and the introduction of non-native predators.
Physical Description
Slender body with dark brown to black dorsal coloration, three prominent light yellow or greenish-yellow stripes (one running down the spine and one on each side), a lighter cream or yellowish belly, and a narrow head distinct from the neck with round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
Length of this specimen appears to be approximately 50-70 cm. Typical adult size ranges from 46 to 86 cm in total length.
Habitat
Semi-aquatic habitats including the margins of ponds, streams, marshes, swamps, and wet meadows, preferring areas with direct sunlight and dense vegetative cover.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on amphibians (such as frogs and salamanders), small fish, and tadpoles, utilizing active foraging in wetland edge habitats.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young), with breeding occurring in the spring after emerging from brumation, yielding a typical litter of 3 to 20 live young born in late summer.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with the Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), but ribbon snakes are much more slender, have a longer tail relative to their body length, and lack the dark vertical bars on the labial scales seen in garter snakes.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, though localized populations face threats from wetland drainage, habitat fragmentation, and the introduction of non-native predators.
Cultural Significance
Acts as an important mid-level predator in wetland ecosystems helping to regulate amphibian and small fish populations, and is commonly encountered by gardeners and hikers in eastern North America.
Notable Features
Exhibits a distinct defensive posture by raising the anterior portion of its body off the ground when startled, and possesses extreme agility and speed when escaping into water.