Northern Ringneck Snake

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
Ringneck Snake - Blueish-grey coloration - By: Bob Hamilton Ringneck Snake - Olive-brown coloration - By: Bob Hamilton Ringneck Snake - Olive-brown coloration - By: Bob Hamilton
Ringneck Snake - Dark grey-black coloration - By: Kyle Loucks Ringneck Snake - Belly with pattern - By: Kyle Loucks Ringneck Snake - Belly without pattern - By: Billy Brown
Northern Ringneck Snake - By: Wayne Fidler Northern Ringneck Snake - By: Wayne Fidler

Juveniles
Ringneck Snake - Juvenile - By: Kyle Loucks

Range Map:
Ringneck Snake Range Map

References:

  • Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. pp.
  • Ernst, Carl H. and Ernst, Evelyn M. ,2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. pp.

Photo Credits:

  • Kyle Loucks
  • Billy Brown
  • Bob Hamilton
  • Wayne Fidler