Northern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis)

Northern Ribbon Snake
Photograph by Jon and Michele. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

NORTHERN RIBBON SNAKE FACTS

Description
The Northern Ribbon Snake is a slender snake. It is black or brown with three yellow or white stripes along its back. The head is black with white scales along the mouth. The underside is white or light yellow.

Size
50cm - 100cm

Environment
marshes or live near the edges of lakes, ponds, and streams. Ribbon Snakes are good swimmers

Food
They eat frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, small fish, and insects.

Breeding
Northern Ribbon Snakes are ovoviviparous. 3 to 26 live young are born in late summer. The young snakes are about 20cm long and are similar color as the adults.

Range
Canada: Nova Scotia, southern Ontario. United States: Michigan, New York, southern Maine, northern Ohio, Indiana, endangered species in Wisconsin.

Notes
Ribbon Snakes have toxins in their saliva and the bite can produce mild reaction in humans. They are not considered dangerous to humans, although they excrete a foul smelling musk when handled.

Classification

Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata (Serpentes)
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Thamnophis
Species:	sauritus septentrionalis
Common Name:	Northern Ribbon Snake

Relatives in same Genus
  Butler's Garter Snake (T. butleri)
  Blackneck Garter Snake (T. cyrtopsis)
  Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (T. elegans)
  Coast Garter Snake (T. elegans terrestris)
  Two-Striped Garter Snake (T. hammondii)
  Checkered Garter Snake (T. marcianus marcianus)
  Redstripe Ribbon Snake (T. proximus rubrilineatus)
  Eastern Ribbon Snake (T. sauritus sauritus)
  Texas Garter Snake (T. sirtalis annectens)
  California Red-Sided Garter Snake (T. sirtalis infernalis)
  Common Garter Snake (T. sirtalis sirtalis)

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