Name this snake
Posted by Dana McCormack on October 1, 2005
Q: Saw 2 snakes in my yard today don't know what kind they are, but I am very curious a Black snake with a red or orange color ring around it's neck.
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: Florida
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: Sounds like a ringneck snake. While there are several subspecies of ringneck in the US, most have dark backs and heads with a pale yellow or orangish ring just behind the head, and yellow to red bellies. Some subspecies have black moon-shaped spots on the belly as well. In Florida you would encounter the Southern Ringneck — this one does have spots on the belly and often a ring broken by dark pigment on the back of the neck.
Ringnecks are beautiful, harmless little snakes that never get much larger than about 10-14" in length. They eat salamanders, lizards, earthworms and frogs and are often common in wooded areas.
Thanks for asking.
Solon Morse ( October 1, 2005)