Northern Ring-necked Snake

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

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

Description:
Slender, small to medium size species with small smooth scales. The species gets its name from the orange colored ring around the neck. This ring is usually 1.5-2 scales in width and is bordered by black on each side. The upper body and head are dark gray, blue-gray or olive brown. The belly is bright orange or yellow. Young are similar to adults.

Adult Coloration:
  • The dorsal is dark gray, blue-gray 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 of the head is usually the same as dorsal of the body or darker gray/black.
Adult 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 Count:
  • 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
Range:

Juvenile Gallery:

May be Confused With:
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.
Credits:
  • Kyle Loucks
  • Billy Brown
  • Bob Hamilton
  • Wayne Fidler
  • Sebastian Harris
  • M. Anne Esbenshade
  • Jason Poston
  • Andy Weber

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