On our first field trip of the semester, we found the Southern Ringneck Snake, Diadophis punctatus. The snake gets its name from the bright yellow ring around its neck which is incomplete, and it is also characterized by a yellow belly with a row of black half-moons running down the center. Ringneck snakes are usually 10-14 inches in length, and they have smooth, divided scales.
Although these snakes are not aquatic, they are usually found around areas with lots of moisture such as swamps or poorly drained forests, living in logs or in leaf litter. Ringneck snakes hunt primarily at night and typically feed on earthworms and salamanders. Female ringneck snakes usually lay between 2 to 7 eggs in the early summer.
When we found this snake on our field trip, I was very surprised at how small it actually was. While the snake was about 8-10 inches in length, it was much slimmer than I was expecting it to be. I did not touch the snake, but it looked very smooth and its belly was bright yellow. I was not the one who found the snake, but it was found in a swampy, damp area likely covered by a log or leaves. Being able to find a snake in the field was both scary and exciting, and I'm glad that we were able to find at least one snake on our herp adventures!
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Thanks to the staff at Caw Caw County Park, who found this snake during their Master Naturalist program hike. I was so glad they shared this find with us!
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