- Diadophis punctatus regalis
-
regal ringneck snake 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Genus: Diadophis Species: D. punctatus Subspecies: D. p. regalis Trinomial name Diadophis punctatus regalis
Baird & Girard, 1853Synonyms Diadophis regalis Baird & Girard, 1853
Liophis regalis Günther, 1893
Coronella regalis Boulenger, 1894
Diadophis regalis Cope, 1900
Diadophis regalis regalis Schmidt & Davis, 1941The regal ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus regalis) is a subspecies of ringneck snake found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Contents
Description
The regal ringneck snake is typically gray in color, with a dark-speckled white or cream underside, which becomes bright red or orange near and under the tail.[1] It is distinguished by a yellow to orange ring around its neck which is typically bordered with black. However, the neck ring is frequently absent in this subspecies. The belly color extends onto one or more dorsal scale rows.[2] They are among the larger of the ringneck snake subspecies, growing from 8 to 34 inches (20 to 87 cm) long. Their scales are smooth.
Habitat
The regal ringneck snake is found in the mountains, not in the desert.[3]
Diet
The regal ringneck snake, unlike other subspecies, is almost exclusively ophiophagous, having a diet that consists primarily of other snakes, such as the earth snakes (genus Virginia) and the blackhead or flathead snakes (genus Tantilla). They have enlarged rear teeth (opisthoglypha) and a weak venom that serves to immobilize their small prey, but is harmless to humans.
Behavior
Ringneck snakes are nocturnal, secretive snakes which spend most of their time hiding under rocks or other ground debris. If threatened, the ringneck snake typically hides its head and twists its tail in a corkscrew type motion, exposing its brightly colored underside, and expels a foul smelling musk from its cloaca.
Reproduction
Mating occurs throughout the warmer months, with 3 to 10 eggs being laid at a time in a moist, protected area, sometimes in a communal nest with the eggs of several other females. The eggs are on average 19 mm (¾ in.) long by 7 mm (¼ in.) wide.[4]
References
- ^ Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, 2nd edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.
- ^ Smith, H.M. and Brodie, E.D., Jr. 1982. A Guide to Field Identification: Reptiles of North America. Golden Press. New York.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wright, A.H. and A.A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Comstock. Ithaca and London.
Categories:- Colubrids
- Reptiles of the United States
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