Western Ribbon Snake

Thamnophis proximus

The Western Ribbon Snake is a slender, colorful snake that loves to swim and bask in the sun. It has beautiful stripes that help it blend into its grassy home.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Western Ribbon Snake is a slender reptile with a dark body, typically black or dark brown, sporting three distinct bright stripes (yellow, cream, or greenish) along its length. Its extra-long tail distinguishes it from similar garter snakes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderSerpentesFamilyColubridaeGenusThamnophis

Western Ribbon Snake

Interesting facts

Their extra-long tails, sometimes a third of their body length, help them balance when climbing!

These snakes don't have venom; they quickly grab slippery prey with tiny, backward-pointing teeth!

They give birth to live babies, not eggs, usually near water in late summer!

Western Ribbon Snakes sometimes 'play dead' by wriggling and going limp if really threatened.

Special abilities

Western Ribbon Snake can glide through water with ease, helping them hunt aquatic prey and escape predators quickly.

Western Ribbon Snake has a super slender body that allows them to zip through tall grass to catch food or disappear from danger.

Western Ribbon Snake has three bright stripes along its body that help them blend perfectly into marshy reeds and grass.

Measurements & details

Length: 40-100 cm
Weight: 0.05-0.2 kg
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Top Speed: 8 km/h
Swim Speed: 3 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-25
Maximum Depth: 2 m

Diet & Feeding

These slender snakes are expert hunters of small aquatic animals like frogs and fish.

Primary Foods

Small fish
Frogs
Tadpoles
Salamanders
Newts

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Mosquitofish

Gambusia affinis

Main food source in many aquatic habitats.

hunts

Southern Leopard Frog

Lithobates sphenocephalus

Frequently preys on juvenile frogs and tadpoles.

eaten by

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Often preyed upon by wading birds in wetland areas.

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Opportunistically eaten by raccoons foraging near water.

Traits

Striped

Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Piscivorous

Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.

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.