turtles lizards snakes
frogs
Reptiles of the United States  
  Home Email Site map
A Guide to the Reptiles &
Amphibians of the United States
Home snakes lizards Turtles turtles salamanders
Snakes of the U.S.
UDG-Banner (55K)
 



Regal Ringneck Snake Range Map






Regal Ringneck Snake Video




Regal Ringneck Snake Juvenile

Home »» Snakes »» Colubridae (Colubrids) »» Ringneck Snakes »» Regal Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus regalis)


Regal Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus regalis)STATUS





Description: The regal ringneck snake is typically gray in color, with a dark-speckled white or cream underside, which becomes bright red or orange near and under the tail. It is distinguished by a yellow to orange ring around its neck which is typically bordered with black. However, the neck ring is frequently absent in this subspecies. The belly color extends onto one or more dorsal scale rows. They are among the larger of the ringneck snake subspecies, growing to a total length (including tail) of 7.9 to 34.3 inches. Their dorsal scales are smooth.


Habitat: The regal ringneck snake is found in the desert, and in the mountains, unlike most snakes.


Range: Regal Ring-necked Snake has been found in California in isolated populations in the Clark, Providence, and Grapevine Mountains. Beyond California it can be found in isolated locations in Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, then in a continuous range from southeast Arizona into New Mexico and south into Mexico. There is also a large range in Texas that is a range of intergradation with the Prairie Ring-necked Snake.


Found in these States: AZ | CA | ID | NM | NV | TX | UT


Diet: The regal ringneck snake, unlike other subspecies, is almost exclusively ophiophagous, having a diet that consists primarily of other snakes, such as the earth snakes (genus Virginia) and the blackhead or flathead snakes (genus Tantilla). They have enlarged rear teeth (opisthoglypha) and a weak venom that serves to immobilize their small prey, but is harmless to humans.


Reproduction: Mating occurs throughout the warmer months, with 3 to 10 eggs being laid at a time in a moist, protected area, sometimes in a communal nest with the eggs of several other females. The eggs are on average 3/4-inch long by 1/4-inch wide.


Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of the very large and probably relatively stable extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size. This species is not threatened in most of its range.


Taxonomy:

»» Kingdom: Animalia - Animals
   »» Phylum: Chordata - Chordates
     »» Subphylum: Vertebrata - Vertebrates
       »» Class: Reptilia - Reptiles
         »» Order: Squamata - Scaled Reptiles
           »» Suborder: Serpentes
             »» Superfamily: Colubroidea
               »» Family: Colubridae - Colubrids
                   »» Genus: Diadophis
                     »» Species: Diadophis punctatus - Ringneck Snakes
                       »» Subspecies: Diadophis punctatus regalis - Regal Ringneck Snake

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Diadophis punctatus regalis", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Content may have been omitted from the original, but no content has been changed or extended.

 

 

 

 


Recommended Books at Amazon.com


U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics     Venomous Snakebite in the Western United States     Venomous Snakes Of The Southeast     The 10 Most Dangerous Snakes in the United States and Canada



DISCLAIMER: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.

 

 
 

Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
Copyright © 2008 - Herpedia™.com