Ringneck Snakes (Diadophis punctatus)

Southern Ringneck (D. p. punctatus) /  Northern Ringneck (D. p. edwardsii)

Description:    Ring-necked snakes are small, slender snakes that usually grow 10-15 in (25-38 cm) long, although the largest individuals can exceed 18 in (45 cm) in length. Their dorsal coloration ranges from glossy black to gray or olive/bluish, with a distinct yellow or orange ring around the neck. They rarely lack this distinguishable characteristic. The head is small and only slightly wider than the neck, and the scales are smooth, giving a shiny appearance.

In this region, we have two distinct subspecies of ringneck: The southern and northern variants. The most visible difference between the two eastern subspecies depends on the belly pattern:

• Southern Ringneck ( p. punctatus): bright yellow to orange belly with bold black half-moon spots, creating a less “plain” looking belly pattern.
• Northern Ringneck ( p. edwardsii): plain yellow to orange belly, lacking the half-moon spotting, creating a uniform, single colored belly.

Within ring-necked snakes, females are generally larger than the males. Juveniles resemble miniature adults, already showing the neck ring and belly pattern (if a southern variant).

Range and Habitat:    Ring-necked snakes are widely distributed across the southeastern United States. The northern form (D. p. edwardsii) occurs from southern Canada through New England, the Great Lakes, and the Appalachians, while the southern form (D. p. punctatus) is found throughout the Southeast, from North Carolina south through Florida and west to Louisiana. Ringneck’s distribution ranges across the entire states of South Carolina and Georgia. In Georgia and South Carolina, the northern subspecies is restricted to the mountains, the southern subspecies to the Coastal Plain, and intergrades occur in the Piedmont. They favor moist woodlands, forest edges, and areas with loose soil and abundant cover. In the north, they are often associated with rocky hillsides and forested slopes, while in the south, they are common in pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, and sandy floodplains. Ringnecks are also highly adaptable, often found in urban environments where suitable cover can be found.

Habits:    Ring-necked snakes are secretive and mostly nocturnal, though they may be active during the day under certain conditions. During the day, they often spend their time under logs, rocks, bark, artificial cover, or brush piles, and become particularly active on humid nights, especially after rain. They are occasionally encountered crossing roads during optimal wet weather.

When disturbed, they seldom bite. Instead, they coil their tails tightly, display their bright belly, and hide their head beneath their bodies. In addition, they will release foul musk.

Their diet consists largely of earthworms, slugs, small amphibians, and other small snakes. They possess mild venom in their saliva and enlarged rear teeth that help subdue prey, but they are harmless to humans. Known predators of ringnecked snakes in the Southeast include other snakes (e.g., kingsnakes, racers), birds of prey, opossums, raccoons, feral cats, armadillos, large-bodied frogs, and even large invertebrates (e.g., wolf spiders, centipedes).

Breeding occurs in the spring, and females typically lay eggs from April through July in the Southeast. Due to climatic and spatial differences, southern populations generally oviposit, or lay eggs, earlier than populations further north. Clutch sizes average about 4-5 eggs, though as few as 2 or as many as 10 can be laid depending on the size of the female. Nesting sites are usually under rotting logs, rocks, artificial cover, or loose soil. Eggs hatch in late summer to early fall, with neonates averaging 4-5 in (10-12 cm) long. Northern population females reach sexual maturity at roughly 3-4 years of age, and males at roughly 2-3 years. In southern populations, sexual maturity may be reached earlier due to the longer warm seasons.

Conservation Status:    Ring-necked snakes are widespread and often locally common, but their secretive, fossorial habits often cause them to go unnoticed. Local populations may be impacted by habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, and predation by feral cats. These pressures are especially pronounced in the heavily urbanized Southeast. Despite these threats, both the northern form (D. p. punctatus) and southern form (D. p. edwardsii) are considered globally secure and are listed as stable and not of significant conservation concern. However, ringneck snakes are a protected species in both Georgia and South Carolina.

Pertinent References

• Meshaka, W.E. Jr., T.K. Pauley, J. Russell, & K.-M. Herrick. 2018. Life history traits in the northern ring-necked snake, Diadophis punctatus edwardsii (Merrem, 1820), in West Virginia. Herpetological Bulletin 144:14-18.
• Richards, T.E. 2017. Effect of urbanization on predatory defense mechanisms of southern ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) populations in south Florida. M.S. Thesis, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL. 69 pp.
• Willson, J.D. & M.E. Dorcas. 2004. Aspects of the ecology of small fossorial snakes in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Southeastern Naturalist 3:1-12.