# Ring-necked Snake (*Diadophis punctatus*) The Ring-necked Snake is small and has a beautiful yellow ring around its neck! They are shy and prefer to hide under rocks. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 55 - **Habitat:** Woodlands and grasslands - **Also known as:** Ringneck Snake ![Ring-necked Snake](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426217/objects/5693.jpg) ## Appearance The Ring-necked Snake is a slender reptile, typically gray to black on its back. It has a distinctive bright yellow, orange, or reddish ring around its neck, which sharply contrasts with its dark body. The belly is usually a vibrant yellow or orange, making it visually unique. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Diadophis ## Interesting facts - Despite being snakes, they rarely bite humans and often coil up instead. - Ring-necked Snakes lay their small, white eggs in rotting wood or under rocks. - Their smooth scales feel surprisingly soft to the touch, not slimy at all! - These tiny snakes often play dead to trick predators into leaving them alone! ## Special abilities - **Flashy Defense:** Ring-necked Snakes can coil their tail into a spiral to expose a bright orange belly, startling predators away. - **Mild Venom Bite:** Ring-necked Snakes have mild venom that helps them subdue small prey like salamanders and slugs effectively. - **Scent Tracker:** Ring-necked Snakes can use their forked tongue to 'taste' the air, helping them find hidden prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 25-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-10 - **Incubation:** 50-70 days ## Diet & Feeding This small snake is a carnivore that enjoys dining on other small, soft-bodied creatures. - **Primary Foods:** salamanders, earthworms, slugs, small frogs, insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*) — A primary food source in many habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common aerial predator of these snakes. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Opportunistic nocturnal predators that may eat them. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ring-necked 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 Ring-necked Snake? 25-45 cm ### How much does Ring-necked Snake weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Ring-necked Snake live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Ring-necked Snake move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Ring-necked Snake eat? This small snake is a carnivore that enjoys dining on other small, soft-bodied creatures. ### Where is Ring-necked Snake usually found? Woodlands and grasslands ### How does Ring-necked Snake hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Alder Creek Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alder-creek-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Central Shelby Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-shelby-historic-district) — North Carolina, US · Historic District - [Commerce Street Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/commerce-street-residential-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Days Ferry Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/days-ferry-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Ring-necked Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ring-necked-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: [Ring-necked Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ring-necked-snake)