Ringneck Snake

Diadophis punctatus

Like most small snakes, the Ringneck is shy and meek. It hides under flat stones and forest litter and looks for salamanders, small lizards, and earthworms to eat. Some western subspecies, including the Prairie Ringneck, will bury the head in the coils when alarmed and elevate the bright tail in corkscrew fashion. This may distract predators -- and a bite to the tail has less chance of killing the snake than one to the head.

Look For : A black, gray, greenish, or brown snake with a yellow or orange neck ring (occasionally absent) and a bright red, yellow, or orange belly, sometimes with black spots.

Length : 10-30".

Habitat : Moist hardwood and mixed forests, grasslands, chaparral, desert streamsides.

Range : Eastern Canada to Florida Keys, west to the Pacific coast, south to central Mexico.