Diadophis punctatus punctatus (Linnaeus)
the Southern Ringneck Snake
Current Name
Original Name
Diadophis punctatus punctatus Linnaeus, 1766.
Coluber punctatus Linnaeus, 1766. Type-locality: South Carolina; restricted to Charleston, South Carolina by Schmidt (1953). Type collected by Alexander Garden.
The genus Diadophis was first used by Baird & Girard (1853)
Physical Description Habitat Natural History Conservation
Size: Adults, 7-18 inches; hatchlings, 3-5 inches.
Identifying Attributes: Uniformly bluish black to slate gray or brownish, with a cream to yellow collar across neck that is broken, and a single row of large, black half-moons along the midventral line. Loreal scale is present; smooth scales; 15 scale rows at midbody; divided anal plate. Hatchlings are uniformly colored black or blue-black and the venter is usually white.
Range: Coastal plain and piedmont from southern New Jersey to Mobile Bay and Florida.
Macro: In moist or damp places, near water, banks of brooks, cypress edges, and creek bottomlands, woodlands, hardwood stands.
Micro: Under logs, sphagnum, stones, gravel, sand, loose bark from fallen trunks, damp leaves, leaf mats, and bark and loose litter around stumps and tree bases.
Feeding: Preys on small vertebrates as well as insects and other small invertebrates.
Behavior: Secretive, seldom encountered in the open. Do not bite, but will release foul-smelling feces and musk from anal glands when threatened. Also uses exaggerated tail coiling to detract predators from the head.
Reproduction: Oviparous, 2-7eggs, around 6-7 weeks to hatch.
Period of Activity: Most active between April and September, but may be found at other times of year depending on the weather. Hibernate.
Predators: Birds of prey, other snakes, and bullfrogs.
Though the subspecies is currently secure, fragmentation of forest habitat by urbanization may pose a threat in some areas.