Northern redbelly snake | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Genus: | Storeria |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | S. o. occipitomaculata |
Trinomial name | |
Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata (Storer, 1839) | |
Synonyms | |
The northern redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae, a subspecies of Storeria occipitomaculata . It is native to North America.
S. o. occipitomaculata is found in the central and northeastern United States and in adjacent southeastern Canada. [1] Redbelly snakes are found throughout eastern North America west to the eastern borders of Oklahoma, Kansas, and South Dakota. In the north, the range extends farther west into eastern North Dakota and farther west still through southern Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. [2]
Adults and young of S. o. occipitomaculata have known dorsal colorations of solid olive-brown, tan-brown, chestnut-brown, grey-brown, grey or even black. They have three yellow spots posterior to the head shields, [3] to which the specific name occipitomaculata (meaning spotted back of the head) refers. The underside is coral-red to brick-red. Coloration is usually made up of three different shades forming a striped pattern. Like all species of the genus Storeria , the northern redbelly snake has keeled dorsal scales and no loreal scale. [4] Some specimens have been found with three black dots on the top of the head.[ citation needed ] Adults grow to 20–28 cm (7.9–11.0 in) in total length. [5]
The northern redbelly snake lives in moist flowerbeds, gardens, and moist woodlands, such as borders between forest and wetlands. It often rests under logs and rocks near a woods or forest. [6] Redbelly snakes are known to occur in wet meadows, woodlands, and forest-meadow edge habitats. [2]
S. o. occipitomaculata preys primarily on slugs and earthworms. [4] The habitat they are found in supports slugs, snails, earthworms, and insect larvae, which are thought to make up the majority of the diet of redbelly snakes.[ citation needed ]
The northern redbelly snake gives birth to live young. [4] Each newborn measures about 7.1–11 centimetres (2.8–4.3 in) in total length. [7]
S. o. occipitomaculata is known to live up to four years in captivity.[ citation needed ] They will not attempt to bite when handled, but may curl back their upper "lip", and may emit musk from glands at the base of the tail. [5]
The smooth green snake is a species of North American nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is also referred to as the grass snake. It is a slender, "small medium" snake that measures 36–51 cm (14–20 in) as an adult. It gets its common name from its smooth dorsal scales, as opposed to the rough green snake, which has keeled dorsal scales. The smooth green snake is found in marshes, meadows, open woods, and along stream edges, and is native to regions of Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. A non-aggressive snake, it seldom bites and usually flees when threatened. It mates in late spring to summer, and females lay their eggs from June to September. The smooth green snake will often bob its head in order to mimic vegetation blowing in the wind.
Tropidoclonion is a genus of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is monotypic, containing the sole species Tropidoclonion lineatum, commonly known as the lined snake. The species is endemic to North America.
The black swamp snake is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States. There are three subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Carphophis is a genus of small colubrid snakes endemic to the United States. The genus consists of two species, one of which has two subspecies.
Cemophora coccinea, commonly known as the scarlet snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southeastern United States. There are two subspecies of C. coccinea that are recognized as being valid. The Texas scarlet snake was previously considered a subspecies.
Storeria is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to North America and Central America. The genus consists of five species, four of which are known as brown snakes, and one of which is known as the redbelly snake.
The eastern racer, or North American racer, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America and Central America. Eleven subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, are recognized, which as a group are commonly referred to as the eastern racers. The species is monotypic in the genus Coluber.
Pantherophis bairdi is a species of harmless snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. No subspecies are recognized as being valid.
Virginia striatula, commonly called the rough earth snake, is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid snake native to the Southeastern United States.
Storeria dekayi, commonly known as De Kay's brown snake, De Kay's snake, and simply the brown snake, is a small non-venomous species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America and Central America.
Regina grahamii, commonly known as Graham's crayfish snake, is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the central United States.
The Texas brown snake(Storeria dekayi texana), a subspecies of Storeria dekayi, is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is endemic to North America.
Kirtland's snake is a threatened or endangered North American species of nonvenomous snake of the subfamily Natricinae, of the family Colubridae. It is the only species in the genus Clonophis.
Farancia erytrogramma is a species of large, nonvenomous, highly amphibious colubrid snake, endemic to the coastal plains of the southeastern United States. Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, one of which has been declared extinct.
Diadophis punctatus edwardsii, commonly known as the northern ringneck snake, is a subspecies of Diadophis punctatus, a snake in the family Colubridae. The subspecies is endemic to North America.
Storeria occipitomaculata, commonly known as the redbelly snake or the red-bellied snake, is a species of harmless snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America.
Thamnophis proximus, commonly known as the western ribbon snake or western ribbonsnake, is a species of garter snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is found in the central and southern United States, Mexico, and Central America south to central Costa Rica. The species has six recognized subspecies.
The midwestern worm snake, Carphophis amoenus helenae, a subspecies of C. amoenus, is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The subspecies is endemic to the Midwest and Southern United States.
Storeria hidalgoensis, commonly known as the Mexican yellow-bellied brown snake or the Mexican yellowbelly brown snake, is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico.
Carphophis amoenus, commonly known as the worm snake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to the eastern United States. C. amoenus can be found east of the Mississippi, from southwest Massachusetts south to southern Alabama west to Louisiana and then north to Illinois. This species of snake protects a large range, and normally prefers a moist habitat in the rocky woodlands, under rotten wood of logs and stumps. Though this snake is quite abundant over its range, it is rarely seen because of its dormant lifestyle and where it usually resides. This snake is most common on the edges or in the ecotonal areas of open to thick woodlands, and the borders of wetlands. It may also be found in the grasslands next to woodlands. The best chance to spot it is after heavy rains, when its small size and distinct color make it easy to spot. This species prefers moist soil inhabited by earthworms, which are its main prey, so the soil needs to be sufficiently moist. The snake's skin naturally evaporates water; so the soil needs to be moist enough to offset this. C. amoenus is mostly found under rocks and in sufficient leaf litter during the extreme daytime heat. Peak activity falls between 15:00 to 18:00.