(41-71 cm) long. Official Web Site of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, © 2020 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 64 N. Union Street, Suite 468 - Montgomery, Alabama 36130, Physically Disabled Hunting and Fishing Trail. LIFE HISTORY:  Ribbon snakes will mate in the spring between April and May after emerging from hibernation. [10] Ribbon snakes rarely use any aggressive form of defense. Jim Framer is a 60-year-old retiree who enjoys photography, camping and hunting. They have three light, usually yellow, stripes (two along the sides and one down the center of the back) against a dark background. Probably the most distinctive characteristic about the Eastern Ribbon Snake's coloring is the presence of three light-colored stripes that run along the body. [1] It is a non-venomous[4][5] species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. Required fields are marked *. Unlike other members of the garter snake group, ribbon snakes prefer to feed upon aquatic creatures such as small fish, tadpoles, salamanders, small frogs, and toads. On the ribbon snake, the lateral stripes that extend down the sides are located on the third and fourth scale row. Biology: The Eastern Ribbon snake is a variety of ribbon snake and is also called the Common Ribbon snake. The garter snakes have a relatively short tail, usually five inches or less. Natricidae (still considered to be in the family Colubridae, subfamily Natricinae by some researchers). [9], In order to hunt, ribbon snakes use a few of their senses including auditory and visual perception. The Eastern Ribbon Snake is closely related to garter snakes, but is much slimmer. STATUS: Fairly common statewide, but not as frequently encountered as in the past. The population of the eastern ribbon snake is considered to be high throughout our region. Carpenter C.C. [6] It is dark brown with bright yellow stripes. 22:235-258. Smithsonian Institution Press: April 17, 2003. Description: Ribbon snakes are slender, fast-moving snakes that usually live near water. It is a member of the garter snake family, and is found in 4 different subspecies. Jim has been married to his wife Karen for over 30 years. The live young tend to be born in the summer, in litters of 4 to 27 snakes. It occurs from central New England to southeastern Illinois and from there to eastern Louisiana and Florida’s Panhandle and southeastern South Carolina. It ranges from the southern region of New England throughout southern Ohio and Indiana to the Mississippi River. Eastern ribbon snakes mate soon after emerging from hibernation in the spring. Willson, This ribbon snake has eaten a large treefrog. Ribbon snakes resemble the closely related eastern garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis and may be easily confused with it. A water bowl sufficiently large for the snakes to both drink and soak should be provided. It is black in color and has three bright yellow … The ribbon snake can be found in wet climates such as creek-beds, streams, lakes, wet woodlands, and marsh areas. Along with this, they flee and hide in dense patches of grass in which they will coil up and get as low to the ground as possible. Tail length for the ribbon snake generally accounts for one third or more of total body length. Although a clutch usually contains from 5 to 15 neonates, up to 31 babies have been documented. Their gentle nature has made them a common pet. [7], The following four subspecies of ribbon snake are recognized as being valid:[1]. Occasional examples reach 48 inches. An avid outdoors-man, Jim has hunted and photographed all types of wildlife all across this great nation. T. s. sackenii is found in southern portions of our region and throughout most of Florida. Look for this pretty dark brown serpent with the precise butter-yellow stripes among vegetation along ditches, marshes, ponds, streams and other waterways. Ribbon snakes resemble the closely-related eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), however ribbon snakes are generally more slender, have unpatterned lip scales, and the lateral stripes are found on scale rows 3 and 4 (in garter snakes they are on rows 2 and 3). They are most active in the spring when rain fall is abundant. However, when threatened, they do secrete a bad-smelling musk from their anal glands. Following birth, parental care is not given. [7] The ribbon snake is not sexually dimorphic; however, females are normally thicker than their male counterparts. The Center of Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management, University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fish. Range and Habitat: Eastern ribbon snakes are found throughout the eastern US, but are absent from much of the Appalachian Mountains. Maturity is reached around 3 years of age. The ribbon snake has an extremely long tail that accounts for one-fourth to one-third of its total overall length, which is typically 18 to 26 inches. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Eastern Milk Snake – 1 of 22 Non Venomous Snakes In Ohio, Gray Rat Snake – 1 of 22 Non Venomous Snakes In Ohio. Although these hardy snakes are not adversely affected by normal room temperatures, ribbon snakes may coil and bask beneath a heat lamp on cool days. Despite the propensity of this snake for water, the substrate must be kept dry lest the ribbon snakes develop a difficult to cure blister disease syndrome. This is the widest ranging of the 4 subspecies of eastern ribbon snakes. Your email address will not be published. Ribbon snakes tend to breed once or twice each year after they mature. [12], "Variations and genetic relationships of the garter-snakes", https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-snakes/list/thamnophis-sauritus-sackenii/, https://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/ribbonsnake.htm, "Eastern Ribbon Snake Facts and Pictures | Reptile Fact", "Eastern ribbon snake videos, photos and facts -, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ribbon_snake&oldid=980454762, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 September 2020, at 16:33.

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