# 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. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Western Ribbon Snake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Thamnophis_proximus_194832309.jpg&width=800) Photo: Meghan Cassidy, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thamnophis_proximus_194832309.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Thamnophis ## 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 - **Swift Swimmer:** Western Ribbon Snake can glide through water with ease, helping them hunt aquatic prey and escape predators quickly. - **Quick Dasher:** Western Ribbon Snake has a super slender body that allows them to zip through tall grass to catch food or disappear from danger. - **Secret Stripes:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-leopard-frog) (*Lithobates sphenocephalus*) — Frequently preys on juvenile frogs and tadpoles. - **Eaten by:** [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) — Often preyed upon by wading birds in wetland areas. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Opportunistically eaten by raccoons foraging near water. ## 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. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [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 stay calm and walk away slowly. Snakes are usually not harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western 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 Western Ribbon Snake? 40-100 cm ### How much does Western Ribbon Snake weigh? 0.05-0.2 kg ### How long does Western Ribbon Snake live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Western Ribbon Snake move? 8 km/h ### What does Western Ribbon Snake eat? These slender snakes are expert hunters of small aquatic animals like frogs and fish. ### How fast can Western Ribbon Snake swim? 3 km/h ### Where is Western Ribbon Snake usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Chilocco Indian Agricultural School](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chilocco-indian-agricultural-school) — Oklahoma, US · Campus - [Houston Arboretum and Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/houston-arboretum-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Fort Chadbourne](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-chadbourne) — Texas, US · Historic Site - [Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shangri-la-botanical-gardens-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [The John Fairey Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-john-fairey-garden) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Western Ribbon Snake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-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: [Western Ribbon Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-ribbon-snake)