Ring-necked Snake of Louisiana

The Ring-necked Snake is a small, harmless, non-poisonous snake that lives in forested areas all over the Southeastern United States. This beneficial reptile spends most of the daylight hours hiding under logs, but is active at night during the warm months of the year. Ring-necked Snakes are egg-layers and the females brood their eggs. Because of it's diet of earthworms and small reptiles and amphibians, it is often adversely affected by environmental alterations that destroy natural habitats or when pesticides are introduced into the ecosystem.

A small, moderately short (up to 30 inches) snake with a black or slate gray back with a bright yellow neck band and belly. The belly usually has small black spots, the dorsal scales are smooth, in 15 rows and the anal plate is divided. Babies look like the adults.

The Mississippi Ring-necked Snake is the only species occurring in Louisiana. It occurs over most of the state, except the Marsh and is very rare in the Prairie, the Atchafalaya and Tensas basins and the Longleaf Forest south of the Red River.

E. Ring-necked snake, Diadophis punctatus

F. Pine Woods snake, Rhadinaea flavilata

*Photo Reference: Dundee and Rossman, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana, LSU Press, 1989

Habitat and Habits

The Ring-necked Snake needs cover and is usually found under logs in forested areas. It can also be found in stumps, beneath boards, railroad ties, bark on fallen trees and brick piles. These small snakes often travel long distances, up to a mile has been recorded and they often travel 200 feet. However, they do not like to cross roads. They are active in the warm months, particularly at night. When picked up or handled it will often coil its tail and display the bright undersurface. They rarely bite humans and are considered harmless. In rare cases when they bite, a burning sensation is sometimes reported. These small snakes eat earthworms and insect larvae as well as small lizards and salamanders.

Mating occurs in spring and fall. Ring-necked snakes are egg layers. During courting, male will rub his mouth along the neck of the female and bite her on the neck ring. Interestedly, females can store sperm from fall matings through the winter and fertilization will occur in spring. Females lay from two to ten oblong eggs, which they brood. Good nesting sites are often shared by several females. The eggs hatch in about 7-8 weeks.

The photograph below was taken in late March in southeastern Louisiana. We think that this may be a female that will lay her eggs soon. She is much fatter and wider than most Ring-necked snakes.

Many of the photos seen here can be purchased in Naturegirl7's Zazzle Shop as print-on-demand products such as posters, cards, apparel, mugs, etc.

This is a "must have" book for all snake lovers who live in the Southeastern United States. It has fabulous photos, maps and accurate information about each species of snake.

Extensive research has been done on this species. At least eight species of terrestrial snakes prey upon Ring-neck Snakes. Other predators include five species of birds, six native mammals, bullfrogs and toads.

When disturbed their first line of defense is to try to escape. If the log under which they are hiding is turned over, they may momentarily flip over, exposing the bright yellow, orange, or red belly and then quickly turn over and crawl into the dark soil. The maneuver tends to confuse or distract a predator and allow the dark colored snake to escape. These snakes also produce a strong musky odor.

These interesting little snakes require woodland habitats with a broad range of prey so they are vulnerable to environmental changes that destroy natural habitats or that introduce pesticides into the ecosystem.

Reference: Dundee and Rossman, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana, LSU Press, 1989 and Gibbons and Dorcas, Snakes of the Southeast, U. GA Press, 2005

This video shows a northern Ring-necked Snake which is similar to the Mississippi Ring-necked snake of Louisiana.

Designs by naturegirl7

Southern Ringneck Snake Photo is public domain