Eastern ribbon snake
The Eastern ribbon snake is a harmless, semi-aquatic reptile native to the eastern United States, primarily found near ponds and streams. Distinguished by its thin, ribbon-like body adorned with striking yellow, black, and green stripes, this snake typically grows to lengths between 18 and 26 inches (46 to 66 centimeters). Unlike some snakes, Eastern ribbon snakes possess round pupils and lack eyelids, featuring instead a transparent covering known as brilles, which can give them a glassy appearance.
As carnivores, they primarily feed on frogs, fish, salamanders, and insects, employing a unique method of swallowing prey whole due to their flexible skin and simple skeletal structure. Their ability to sense their environment includes the use of specialized heat-sensing pits that detect infrared heat rays, aiding in hunting and navigation. Mating occurs in April or May after hibernation, with females giving birth to an average of 12 young after a gestation period of about three months. With a lifespan of up to 12 years, the Eastern ribbon snake is an intriguing species that plays a role in the ecosystem near its aquatic habitats.
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Eastern ribbon snake
Eastern ribbon snakes are harmless snakes which are often found in or near water. They rarely bite people when they are being handled, but may give off a thick, musky smell when they are alarmed.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species: Sauritus
Eastern ribbon snakes are thin and closely resemble common garter snakes. They have yellow, black, and green stripes running the length of their bodies. They are called ribbon snakes for their thin, spindly, ribbon-like bodies and stripes. Eastern ribbon snakes generally grow to between 18 and 26 inches (46 and 66 centimeters) long. Unlike some snakes with vertically elliptical pupils, like cats, eastern ribbon snakes have round pupils like humans. Pupils are the black parts of the eyes that open and close to let in light. Eastern ribbon snakes also have brilles instead of eyelids. Brilles are transparent, or clear, coverings that rest over the eyes like window panes. Brilles often cause snakes to have a dazed, glassy-eyed appearance.
Eastern ribbon snakes are semi-aquatic, which means they spend part of their time on land and part in the water. They are usually found near ponds or streams in the eastern United States. Eastern ribbon snakes are also carnivores. This means they eat only meat, like frogs, fish, salamanders, and insects.
Once an eastern ribbon snake has killed its prey, it begins swallowing it whole. It opens its mouth and slides it over the prey's head while gripping it with its teeth. The snake then begins to push it into its body until it is completely inside. Since snakes have very stretchy, flexible skin and only a simple bone structure, they can swallow prey whole without breaking it apart even inside their bodies.
Like other snakes, eastern ribbon snakes sense their environment through various sensory organs. Like many animals, snakes can see, smell, hear, touch, and taste, but they can also sense chemicals and infrared heat rays. Eastern ribbon snakes have small holes, called pits, directly above their mouths. These pits are heat sensory organs that measure highly sensitive temperatures called infrared heat rays. Recognizing these temperatures helps eastern ribbon snakes notice the difference between an animal and its surroundings. Eastern ribbon snakes can sense chemicals in their environments using their sensitive tongues. Snakes' tongues pick up chemicals and bring them into their mouths. There they are placed in special organs which are designed to figure out which chemicals are present in the environment. This information helps the snakes trail prey, recognize predators, and find mates.
Mating season for eastern ribbon snakes takes place soon after hibernation in April or May. The females carry the eggs inside their bodies and have clutches, or batches, of up to 27 young, though 12 is average. They have a gestation period (duration of pregnancy) of about three months. They may give birth to two clutches in one year.
Eastern ribbon snakes have a life span of up to 12 years.
Bibliography
Dewey, Tanya. "Thamnophis Sauritus." Animal Diversity Web, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Thamnophis‗sauritus. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.
"Ribbon Snake." A-Z Animals, 8 Apr. 2023, a-z-animals.com/animals/ribbon-snake. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.