# 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. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Common Ribbon Snake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/EasternRibbonSnake.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ande9174 at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EasternRibbonSnake.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Thamnophis ## 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 - **Striped Camouflage:** Common Ribbon Snakes have vibrant stripes that help them blend into tall grasses, making them almost invisible to predators. - **Aquatic Agility:** Common Ribbon Snakes can swim gracefully underwater, allowing them to ambush small fish and amphibians with ease. - **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 - **Hunts:** Northern Leopard Frog (*Lithobates pipiens*) — eats tadpoles and small frogs - **Hunts:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-perch) (*Perca flavescens*) — preys on small fish, including fry - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — is prey for larger raptors - **Hunts:** [Tiger Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger-salamander) (*Ambystoma tigrinum*) — consumes larvae and small adults ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## 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 ## Where to spot - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Fort Caroline](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-caroline) — Florida, US · National Park - [Grist Mill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grist-mill-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Kirk Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kirk-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/magnolia-plantation-and-gardens-charleston-south-carolina) — South Carolina, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Common Ribbon Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-ribbon-snake) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Common Ribbon Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-ribbon-snake)