Southern Ring-neck snakes have slate grey bodies, with a bright yellow to red underbelly, sometimes dotted with black spots. Their distinguishing feature is the ring of orange or yellow right behind their heads. If the ring around the neck is barely visible, it is a Key Ring-neck snake (Diadophus punctatus acricus), which is found in the lower Florida Keys.
If the ring is distinct and broken, it is a Southern Ring-neck snake (Diadophus punctatus punctatus), found more in the north of Florida, and into southern Alabama. If the ring is distinct and complete, but there are no markings on the underbelly, it is a Northern Ring-neck snake (Diadophus punctatus edwardis), which inhabits the mountains in the north of America, leading into Canada, although it’s not found above higher than 2200m elevation.
Ring-neck snakes can also be identified by their defensive stance when threatened. When alarmed, they coil their tails into a corkscrew to exposure their vivid underbelly. They are small snakes normally between 10 and 15 inches long and are non-venomous. When handled, they will rarely bite, but may release a foul-smelling odor. They are woodland reptiles so live in warm, dark places, such as under logs, or between mossy rocks. When hot, they tend to make a hole and bury themselves in the ground, or are often found hiding behind the bark of a rotting tree. Their diet therefore consists of small earthworms, slugs, frogs, salamanders, and smaller snakes.
Their main method of securing their prey is constriction, as they do not have a dedicated venom gland at the front of the mouth. Ring-neck snakes reproduce by laying eggs, in moist areas, such as inside or under rotting logs. Sometimes, the same nesting site will be used communally by several females. The newborn snakes are 3-4 inches long.
If the ring is distinct and broken, it is a Southern Ring-neck snake (Diadophus punctatus punctatus), found more in the north of Florida, and into southern Alabama. If the ring is distinct and complete, but there are no markings on the underbelly, it is a Northern Ring-neck snake (Diadophus punctatus edwardis), which inhabits the mountains in the north of America, leading into Canada, although it’s not found above higher than 2200m elevation.
Ring-neck snakes can also be identified by their defensive stance when threatened. When alarmed, they coil their tails into a corkscrew to exposure their vivid underbelly. They are small snakes normally between 10 and 15 inches long and are non-venomous. When handled, they will rarely bite, but may release a foul-smelling odor. They are woodland reptiles so live in warm, dark places, such as under logs, or between mossy rocks. When hot, they tend to make a hole and bury themselves in the ground, or are often found hiding behind the bark of a rotting tree. Their diet therefore consists of small earthworms, slugs, frogs, salamanders, and smaller snakes.
Their main method of securing their prey is constriction, as they do not have a dedicated venom gland at the front of the mouth. Ring-neck snakes reproduce by laying eggs, in moist areas, such as inside or under rotting logs. Sometimes, the same nesting site will be used communally by several females. The newborn snakes are 3-4 inches long.
