Northern redbelly snake
| Northern redbelly snake | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Storeria |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | S. o. occipitomaculata
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| Trinomial name | |
| Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata (Storer, 1839)
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| Synonyms | |
The northern redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata) is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae, a subspecies of Storeria occipitomaculata. It is native to North America.
Geographic range
S. o. occipitomaculata is found in the central and northeastern United States and in adjacent southeastern Canada.[1]
Description
Adults and young of S. o. occipitomaculata have known dorsal colorations of solid olive-brown, tan-brown, chestnut-brown, grey-brown, grey or even black. They have three yellow spots posterior to the head shields,[2] to which the specific name occipitomaculata (meaning spotted back of the head) refers. The underside is coral-red to brick-red. Coloration is usually made up of three different shades forming a striped pattern. Like all species of the genus Storeria, the northern redbelly snake has keeled dorsal scales and no loreal scale.[3] Some specimens have been found with three black dots on the top of the head.[citation needed] Adults grow to 20–28 cm (7.9–11.0 in) in total length.[4]
Habitat
The northern redbelly snake lives in moist flowerbeds, gardens, and moist woodlands, such as borders between forest and wetlands. It often rests under logs and rocks near a woods or forest.[5]
Diet
S. o. occipitomaculata preys primarily on slugs and earthworms.[3]
Reproduction
The northern redbelly snake gives birth to live young.[3] Each newborn measures about 7.1–11 centimetres (2.8–4.3 in) in total length.[6]
In captivity
S. o. occipitomaculata is known to live up to four years in captivity.[citation needed] They will not attempt to bite when handled, but may curl back their upper "lip", and may emit musk from glands at the base of the tail.[4]
References
- ^ Powell, R.; Conant, R.; Collins, J.T. (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 207 Figures, 47 color plates. (Storeria o. occipitomaculata, pp. 424–426, Figure 194, Plate 42).
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I–XXVIII. (Ischnognathus occipitomaculatus, pp. 287–288).
- ^ a b c Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Storeria occipitomaculata, pp. 229–230, Figure 74).
- ^ a b "Northern Redbelly Snake". Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Retrieved Aug 20, 2023.
- ^ Wright AH & Wright AA (1957).
- ^ "Northern Red-bellied Snake". HRM (Herpetological Resource and Management). Retrieved Aug 20, 2023.
External links
Further reading
- Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. (Storeria occipitomaculata, pp. 655–656 + Plates 501, 505–506).
- Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Storeria occipitomaculata, p. 156 + Plate 22 + Map 127).
- Conant R, Bridges W (1939). What Snake Is That?: A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains. (Illustrations by Edmond Malnate). New York and London: D. Appleton-Century. Frontispiece map + 163 pp. + Plates A-C, 1–32. ("Storeria occipito-maculata", pp. 110–111 + Plate 21, Figure 61).
- Morris PA (1948). Boy's Book of Snakes: How to Recognize and Understand Them. A volume of the Humanizing Science Series, edited by Jaques Cattell. New York: Ronald Press. viii + 185 pp. ("The Red-Bellied Snake", Storeria o. occipitomaculata, pp. 28–29, 180).
- Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr. (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3. (Storeria occipitomaculata, pp. 160–161).
- Storer, DH (1839). Reports on the Fishes, Reptiles and Birds of Massachusetts. Boston: Commissioners on the Zoological and Botanical Survey of the State. xii + 426 pp. ("C[oluber]. occipito-maculatus", new species, p. 230).
- Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). (Storeria o. occipitomaculata, pp. 714–721 + Figure 210 + Map 54).
- Zim HS, Smith HM (1956) Reptiles and Amphibians: A Guide to Familiar American Species: A Golden Nature Guide. Revised edition. New York: Simon and Schuster. 160 pp. ("Red-bellied Snake", Storeria occipitomaculata, pp. 106, 156).
