Mississsippi Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis punctatus stictogenys

Venom Status:

Non Venomous

 

Characteristics:

Except for 2 subspecies, the 12 subspecies of ring-necked snakes in the USA are little grayish to black snakes that may be immediately identified to genus by the presence of complete or partial bright orange neck rings. Of the 2 holdouts one, a large subspecies from our southwestern arid lands may or may not have a ring and the 2nd, the Key ring-neck, from Florida, also may or may not have a ring but it is a tiny subspecies. 4 subspecies occur in the southeast.Although adult at 10 to 14 inches, the Mississippi ring-necked snake may occasionally attain a length of 17 inches. The head is usually darker than the gray dorsum. The venter is yellowish anteriorly and orange posteriorly with paired or scattered tiny black spots on each scute. The orange neck ring is narrow and often incomplete. Hatchlings, 4 inches long, are darker overall. Scales are in 15 to 17 rows.

 

Unique Features:

This belly of this subspecies is usually yellowish anteriorly and bright orange posteriorly. It has paired or irregular small black spots on each ventral scute. The orange neck ring is narrow and may be incomplete. The ring-necks, as a group, are rear-fanged snakes that produce a venom designed to overcome their pre

 

Habitat and Diet:

Varied but this common snake is usually found beneath rocks, logs, or other surface debris in seasonally moist woodlands, meadows, and even in suburban yards. Prey may be as varied as grubs, worms, slugs, salamanders, smaller snake species, or lizards

 

Geographic Range:

AL, TN, KY, AR, IL, LA, MS, TX, MO,