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Basic Description
Most adult Ring neck Snakes area unit concerning 8-14 inches (21-36 cm) in total length. Adults area unit little and slender with a black or slate grey body and a xanthous ring across the neck, which can be incomplete or missing. The belly and undersurface of the tail area unit bright yellow, orange, or red. Juvenile coloration is comparable to it represented for adults.
Range in Florida
Ring-neck Snakes area unit found throughout ground Florida in each county. They additionally occur on the coral reef.
Assessment of risk to folks and pets
Non-venomous. Ring-necked Snakes don’t seem to be dangerous to folks or pets.
Comparison with alternative species
Florida Brownsnake (Storeria victa) Non-venomous
Most adult Ring-necked Snakes in Florida area unit concerning 8-14 inches (21-36 cm) in total length. Adults area unit little and slender with a black or slate grey body and a yellow, cream, or orange ring across the neck. The neck ring could also be incomplete, and snakes within the Lower coral reef might lack a hoop entirely. The belly is bright yellow, orange, or red with one row of black half-moon markings down the middle. The undersurface of the tail is usually bright red within the ground or yellow within the Panhandle. The scales area unit swish, and there area unit fifteen dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is spherical. Juvenile coloration is comparable to it represented for adults.
In dry land Florida, Ring-necked Snakes area unit ordinarily found in meadows, prairies, pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and melaleuca stands. within the coral reef, they occur principally in pinelands, tropical hardwood hammocks, and around stone outcroppings. Adults and juveniles of this species area unit usually found in residential district neighborhoods wherever development encroaches into favorable habitats.
These mild snakes generally don’t bite in defense. If captured or mistreated, Ring-necked Snakes can usually squirm smartly and unleash funky musk from 2 glands within the base of the tail. If additional mistreated, they’ll usually roll their tail into a decent coil and elevate it to show the intense red or yellow coloration at a lower place, doubtless as a startle show.
Ring-necked Snakes area unit nocturnal (active at night) predators and feed totally on little lizards, snakes, salamanders, frogs, toads, earthworms, slugs, and insects. These snakes don’t seem to be constrictors. Larger prey area unit slowly immobilized employing a gently toxicant venom that’s delivered by 2 slightly elongated teeth at the rear of the mouth. However, smaller prey area unit usually quickly engulfed alive.
In Florida, females lay around 2-7 eggs in wet areas like beneath or within decomposition logs. They generally hatch in late summer or early fall.
• Key colubrid snake (Diadophis punctatus acricus) The Key colubrid snake is found solely on the Lower coral reef as well as massive Pine Key, very little Torch Key, and Middle Torch Key. it’s not found outside of Florida. The ring round the neck is commonly veiled or fully absent in these snakes. thanks to its terribly little vary, this taxon is listed as a vulnerable Species within the state of Florida.
• Southern colubrid snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) The Southern colubrid snake is found throughout Florida, as well as the higher and Middle coral reef.
Ring-necked Snakes will be domestically thick in elements of their vary, as well as in residential areas. However, these little and close snakes area unit seldom seen unless they’re disturbed from their concealment places throughout yardwork or serious rains. Otherwise, they’re generally found by actively checking out them beneath rocks, logs, or alternative surface cowl.
Ring-necked Snakes area unit often found in Florida swimming pools. They kip down to urge a drink so cannot climb out as a result of they’re too little to succeed in the lip of the pool. If you discover one in your pool, elevate it out with the leaf skimmer or a dipnet and unleash within the woods wherever it will come back to to consumption stuff you don’t wish in your garden.
