Diadophis punctatus regalis
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| Diadophis punctatus regalis Baird & Girard, 1853 |
The Regal Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus regalis) is a subspecies of Ringneck Snake found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
[edit] Description
The Regal Ringneck Snake is typically gray in color, with a white or cream colored underside that has dark speckling, and a bright red or orange tail tip. It is distinguished by a yellow to orange colored ring around its neck which is typically bordered with black. They are among the larger of the Ringneck Snake subspecies, growing from 8 to 34 inches (20 to 87 cm) long. Their scales are smooth.
[edit] Behavior
Ringneck Snakes are nocturnal, secretive snakes which spend most of their time hiding under rocks or other ground debris. The Regal Ringneck Snake, unlike other subspecies, is almost exclusively ophiophagous, having a diet that consists primarily of other snakes, such as the Earth Snake (genus Virginia) and the Flathead Snake (genus Tantilla). They have enlarged rear teeth (opisthoglypha) and a weak venom that serves to immobilize their small prey, but is harmless to humans. If threatened, the Ringneck Snake typically hides its head and twists its tail in a corkscrew type motion, exposing its brightly colored underside, and expels a foul smelling musk from its cloaca.
Mating occurs throughout the warmer months, with 3 to 10 eggs being laid at a time in a moist, protected area, sometimes in a communal nest with the eggs of several other females.
