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Common Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis saurita

The Common Ribbon Snake is a slender, colorful snake that loves to swim! It has beautiful stripes and is often found near water. These friendly snakes are great at catching small fish and frogs.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Common Ribbon Snake is a slender reptile with a dark body, typically black, brown, or olive. It has three bright, distinct longitudinal stripes (yellow, white, or greenish) and a pale, unmarked belly. Its prominent side stripes help distinguish it from similar garter snakes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderSerpentesFamilyColubridaeGenusThamnophis
Common Ribbon Snake
Photo: Ande9174 at English WikipediaPublic domain · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗
striped trait badgesolitary trait badgecolorful trait badgepiscivorous trait badge
Common Ribbon Snake

Category

Reptiles

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

13

Interesting facts

A ribbon snake's tail can be nearly one-third of its entire body length!

Ribbon snakes are born live, not from eggs, and are ready to hunt right away!

They can stay underwater for a surprisingly long time to catch their prey!

They often bask on branches over water, ready to drop in if danger appears!

Special abilities

Ability

Striped Camouflage

Common Ribbon Snakes have vibrant stripes that help them blend into tall grasses, making them almost invisible to predators.

Ability

Aquatic Agility

Common Ribbon Snakes can swim gracefully underwater, allowing them to ambush small fish and amphibians with ease.

Ability

Lightning Escape

Common Ribbon Snakes can rapidly slither away through dense vegetation because of their slender body, helping them escape danger quickly.

Measurements & details

Length
46-100 cm
Weight
0.05-0.15 kg
Lifespan
5-10 years
Speed
5 km/h
Swim Speed
6 km/h
Clutch Size
3-26
Maximum Depth
2 m

Diet & Feeding

These agile hunters mostly eat small amphibians and fish found near water.

Primary Foods

  • frogs
  • salamanders
  • tadpoles
  • small fish
  • earthworms

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

If you see a snake, it's best to watch from a distance and not touch it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Common Ribbon Snake?

Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Common Ribbon Snake?

46-100 cm

How much does Common Ribbon Snake weigh?

0.05-0.15 kg

How long does Common Ribbon Snake live?

5-10 years

How fast can Common Ribbon Snake move?

5 km/h

What does Common Ribbon Snake eat?

These agile hunters mostly eat small amphibians and fish found near water.

How fast can Common Ribbon Snake swim?

6 km/h

Where is Common Ribbon Snake usually found?

Wetlands

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