Northern redbelly snake

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Northern redbelly snake
Redbelly Snake - Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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
  • Coluber occipitomaculatus
    Storer, 1839
  • Storeria occipitomaculata
    Baird & Girard, 1853
  • Ischnognathus occipitomaculatus
    Günther, 1858

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.

Geographic range

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]

Description

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]

Northern redbelly snake Northern Redbelly Snake.JPG
Northern redbelly snake

Habitat

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]

Diet

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 ]

Reproduction

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]

In captivity

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]

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References

  1. Powell, R.; Conant, R.; Collins, J.T. (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 207 Figures, 47 color plates. (Storeria o. occipitomaculata, pp. 424–426, Figure 194, Plate 42).
  2. 1 2 https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_012483.pdf.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. Boulenger, G.A. (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I–XXVIII. (Ischnognathus occipitomaculatus, pp. 287–288).
  4. 1 2 3 Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Storeria occipitomaculata, pp. 229–230, Figure 74).
  5. 1 2 "Northern Redbelly Snake". Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Retrieved Aug 20, 2023.
  6. Wright AH & Wright AA (1957).
  7. "Northern Red-bellied Snake". HRM (Herpetological Resource and Management). Retrieved Aug 20, 2023.

Further reading