Regal ringneck snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Diadophis punctatus regalis |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Diadophis |
| Species: | |
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D. p. regalis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Diadophis punctatus regalis Baird & Girard, 1853
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The regal ringneck snake (scientific name: Diadophis punctatus regalis) is a special kind of ringneck snake. It is a subspecies, which means it's a group of animals that are very similar to each other, but also have some unique traits. These snakes live only in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This makes them endemic to these areas.
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What Does a Regal Ringneck Snake Look Like?
Regal ringneck snakes are usually gray. Their bellies are white or cream with dark spots. Near their tail, the color changes to a bright red or orange.
A cool thing about them is the yellow or orange ring around their neck. This ring often has a black border. But sometimes, this neck ring is missing in these snakes. The bright belly color can also reach up onto their lower back scales.
These snakes are some of the biggest ringneck snakes. They can grow to be about 20 to 87 cm (7.9 to 34.3 in) long, including their tail. Their scales are smooth to the touch.
Where Do Regal Ringneck Snakes Live?
Unlike many other snakes, the regal ringneck snake lives in deserts and mountains. They like places where they can find cover, like under rocks or fallen logs.
What Do Regal Ringneck Snakes Eat?
The regal ringneck snake has a very interesting diet! Unlike other ringneck snakes, it mostly eats other snakes. This is called being ophiophagous.
They hunt smaller snakes like earth snakes (from the Virginia genus) and blackhead or flathead snakes (from the Tantilla genus). Regal ringneck snakes have special teeth at the back of their mouth. They also have a weak venom that helps them stop their prey from moving. This venom is not harmful to humans.
How Do Regal Ringneck Snakes Behave?
Regal ringneck snakes are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. During the day, they are very secretive. They spend most of their time hiding under rocks or other things on the ground.
If a regal ringneck snake feels scared, it has a cool trick! It will hide its head and twist its tail in a corkscrew shape. This shows off its bright red or orange underside. It also lets out a stinky smell from its body to scare away danger.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Regal ringneck snakes mate during the warmer months of the year. The female snake lays about 3 to 10 eggs at a time. She looks for a moist, safe place to lay them. Sometimes, several female snakes will lay their eggs together in one big nest.
The eggs are usually about 19 mm (¾ in.) long and 7 mm (¼ in.) wide.
Images for kids
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A regal ringneck snake showing its distinctive neck ring and belly color.
