Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
Encyclopedia
The Northern ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) is a subspecies
of Diadophis punctatus
. The subspecific name is in honor of English ornithologist George Edwards, who collected the type specimen.
, the Mid-Atlantic states
, and the Great Lakes region, and also at higher elevations in the South
. More specifically, it is found in the following: NE Alabama, NW Georgia, SE Illinois, S Indiana, Kentucky, W Maryland, Michigan, NE Minnesota, N New Jersey, New York, W North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, extreme NW South Carolina, E Tennessee, W (western) Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
under a rock or in moist and rotting wood. Other female snakes may also use the same laying site, leading to single site egg finds of up to the mid fifties. The eggs hatch after about two months, and the young look essentially the same as the adults, possibly with a brighter color shade on the ring and belly. The eggs are 21-34 mm (¾-1¼ in.) long by 7-8 mm (¼ in.) wide, and the hatchlings are 100-125 mm (4-5 in.) in total length. Egg laying is normally in early summer and hatching in late summer. In the winter, these snakes hibernate, in locations from stone walls or cellars to small mammal burrow
s to brush piles or rotting logs.
s, earthworms, slug
s, small lizard
s, small snakes, and frogs. The red backed salamander
is a favorite food.
s, toads, five species of predatory birds and six mammal species from shrew
s to black bear
s. Very young Northern ringneck snakes may also be eaten by large centipedes or large spiders.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of Diadophis punctatus
Diadophis punctatus
The ringneck snake or ring-necked snake is a colubrid snake species. It is found throughout much of the United States, central Mexico, and south eastern Canada. Ring-necked snakes are secretive, nocturnal snakes that are rarely seen during the day time...
. The subspecific name is in honor of English ornithologist George Edwards, who collected the type specimen.
Description
The Northern ringneck snake has a body color from bluish grey to black, with a complete narrow yellow or orange ring around its neck and an underside matching the ring and generally lacking any dark spotting or patterning. The complete ring and lack of large dark spots on the belly differentiate it from other subspecies of D. punctatus. In some regions, there are areas of intergradation with other subspecies. Generally from 10 to 15 inches (25-38 cm) long as an adult, they can reach more than two feet (61 cm) in length.Geographic range
In Canada it is found in the southern parts of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick, and also in Nova Scotia. In the United States it is found throughout New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, the Mid-Atlantic states
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
, and the Great Lakes region, and also at higher elevations in the South
The South
-Geography:* Southern United States* South of England* South of France* South Italy* South Korea* Republic of Ireland* South Province * Global South, the developing nations of the world-Other uses:* The South , by Victor Erice...
. More specifically, it is found in the following: NE Alabama, NW Georgia, SE Illinois, S Indiana, Kentucky, W Maryland, Michigan, NE Minnesota, N New Jersey, New York, W North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, extreme NW South Carolina, E Tennessee, W (western) Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Behavior
The species is nocturnal and prone to hiding and traveling under rocks, fallen logs and leaf litter, so it is not commonly observed by people despite the potential abundant population density. (Another subspecies in Kansas was found to have densities of 700 to 1,800 per 1 ha (0.00386102158592535 sq mi; 0.01 km²).) They are also social, and multiple ringnecks may be found in the same hiding spot during any season.Habitat
Their favored habitat over most of their range is a moist wooded area, but they will also use the edges of wetlands or open areas in mountainous or hilly terrain.Reproduction
A female will lay her clutch of 2--10 eggsEgg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
under a rock or in moist and rotting wood. Other female snakes may also use the same laying site, leading to single site egg finds of up to the mid fifties. The eggs hatch after about two months, and the young look essentially the same as the adults, possibly with a brighter color shade on the ring and belly. The eggs are 21-34 mm (¾-1¼ in.) long by 7-8 mm (¼ in.) wide, and the hatchlings are 100-125 mm (4-5 in.) in total length. Egg laying is normally in early summer and hatching in late summer. In the winter, these snakes hibernate, in locations from stone walls or cellars to small mammal burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s to brush piles or rotting logs.
Diet
These snakes prey upon insects, salamanderSalamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
s, earthworms, slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
s, small lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s, small snakes, and frogs. The red backed salamander
Red Back Salamander
The red back salamander is a small, hardy woodland salamander. It inhabits wooded slopes in Eastern North America; west to Missouri; south to North Carolina; and north from southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces in Canada to Minnesota...
is a favorite food.
Predation
They are themselves known to be preyed upon by bullfrogBullfrog
The American bullfrog , often simply known as the bullfrog in Canada and the United States, is an aquatic frog, a member of the family Ranidae, or “true frogs”, native to much of North America. This is a frog of larger, permanent water bodies, swamps, ponds, and lakes, where it is usually found...
s, toads, five species of predatory birds and six mammal species from shrew
Shrew
A shrew or shrew mouse is a small molelike mammal classified in the order Soricomorpha. True shrews are also not to be confused with West Indies shrews, treeshrews, otter shrews, or elephant shrews, which belong to different families or orders.Although its external appearance is generally that of...
s to black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
s. Very young Northern ringneck snakes may also be eaten by large centipedes or large spiders.