Northern redbelly snake

Northern redbelly snake
Storeria o. occipitomaculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Natricinae
Genus: Storeria
Species: S. occipitomaculata
Subspecies: S. o. occipitomaculata
Trinomial name
Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata
(Storer, 1839)
Synonyms
  • Coluber occipitomaculatus
    Storer, 1839
  • Storeria occipitomaculata
    Baird & Girard, 1853
  • Ischnognathus occipitomaculatus
    Günther, 1858

The Northern redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) is a nonvenomous snake in the Colubridae family, a subspecies of Storeria occipitomaculata. It is sometimes referred to as a fire snake. It is endemic to North America.

Geographic range

It is found from Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia in the north and south to Florida and Texas.

Description

Adult and young have known dorsal colorations of solid olive-brown, tan-brown, chestnut-brown, grey-brown, grey or even black. They have three yellow spots posterior to the head shields,[1] to which the specific name occipitomaculata (meaning spotted back of the head) refers. The underside is coral-red to brick-red. Coloration is usually made up of three different shades forming a striped pattern. Like all species of the genus Storeria, redbelly snakes have keeled scales and no loreal scale.[2] Some specimens have been found with three black dots on the top of the head. Adults will grow to about 31 centimetres (12 in) in total length (body + tail).

Northern redbelly snake

Habitat

They can be found in moist flowerbeds, gardens, and moist woodlands, such as borders between a forest and a wetland. They are often found under logs and rocks near a woods or forest.

Diet

They feed primarily on slugs and earthworms.

Reproduction

The Northern redbelly snake gives birth to live young. Each newborn measures about 7.6–11 cm (3-4¼ in.) in total length.

In captivity

They are known to live up to 4 years in captivity. Being nonvenomous, they can be safely held.

External links

References

  1. Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I.- XXVIII. (Ischnognathus occipitomaculatus, pp. 287-288).
  2. Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Storeria occipitomaculata, pp. 229-230, Figure 74).

Further reading

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