Scientific Name: Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
Size: 12-15 inches (25.4-38 cm) in length
PA Status: Abundant

Habitat Type:
Rocky areas, damp hardwood forest, near streams, old fields, rocky hills, grassy fields. May be found under rocks, logs, bark, or leaf litter.

Colorations:

• The dorsal is dark grey, blue-grey or olive brown .
• The ventral is bright orange or yellow. Sometimes fading from orange to yellow.
• The neck has a bright orange or yellow ring/band.
• The dorsal head is usually the same as dorsal or darker grey/black.

Characteristics:

• Slender, small to medium species
• Orange/Reddish to yellow neck ring bordered by black.
• Ring is 1.5 – 2 scales wide.
• A few supralabials may have a pale yellow coloration.
• Smooth scales
• Belly is usually unmarked but may have dots running the length of the belly.
• Young are usually darker than adults.

Scale Counts:

• 15 scale rows at midbody
• 13-17 scale rows at anterior
• 13-15 scale rows at posterior
• 126-238 ventral scales
• 30-79 subcaudals | 2 rows of subcaudals
• 2 nasal scales
• 1 loreal scale
• 2 preocular scales
• 2 postocular scales
• 1+1 temporal scales
• 7-8 supralabials
• 7-8 infralabials
• Anal plate is divided

Confused with:

• Northern Brown Snake
• Red Bellied Snake

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults





Juveniles