- Northern Redbelly Snake
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Northern redbelly snake 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Subfamily: Natricinae Genus: Storeria Species: Storeria occipitomaculata Subspecies: S. o. occipitomaculata Trinomial name Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata
(Storer, 1839)Synonyms Coluber occipitomaculatus Storer, 1839
Storeria occipitomaculata Baird & Girard, 1853
Ischnognathus occipitomaculatus Günther, 1858The Northern redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) is a nonvenomous snake in the Colubridae family, a subspecies of Storeria occipitomaculata.
Contents
Geographic range
It is found from Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia, south to Florida and Texas.
Description
Adult and young have known 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[1], 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, redbelly snakes have keeled scales and no loreal scale.[2] Some specimens have been found with three black dots on the top of the head. Adults will grow to about 31 centimetres (12 in).
Habitat
They can be found in moist flowerbeds, gardens, and moist woodlands.
Diet
They feed primarily on slugs and earthworms.
Reproduction
The Northern redbelly snakes give birth to live young. Newborns measure 7.6-11 cm (3-4¼ in.).
In captivity
They are known to live up to four years in captivity. Being nonvenomous, they can be safely handled.
References
- Description from Nova Scotia Museum
- Genus storeria, species occipitomaculata at The Reptile Database
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). London
- ^ Schmidt, K.P. and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York.
Categories:- Colubrids
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