Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
Adult length between 8-16 inches long. Typically reddish brown with a bright red ventral side. White throat & chin. Occasionally have 1-5 dorsal stripes. Three light spot…
How to identify
Adult length between 8-16 inches long. Typically reddish brown with a bright red ventral side. White throat & chin. Occasionally have 1-5 dorsal stripes. Three light spots found around the base of the head, may blend together to form a collar pattern.
Range
Throughout Midwest and Eastern United States & Eastern Canada. North Dakota to Nova Scotia, Texas to Florida. Small populations in the Black Hills of South Dakota and in Eastern Wyoming
Habitat
Terrestrial. Deciduous and mixed woodlands & forests. Often hide under bark, rocks, leaf litter, and logs.
Variations
Coloration can vary in shades of red to brown, sometimes grey and occasionally black. Underbelly occasionally occurs in yellow, orange, pink, and rarely grey or black. Males have longer tails than females (21-25% of body length, compared to 17-22% for females).
Similar species
Name and etymology
Occipitomaculata: Latin for spotted (maculata) back of head (occiput)
At a glance
Size
20.0 to 40.0 cm
Range
Throughout Midwest and Eastern United States & Eastern Canada. North Dakota to Nova Scotia, Texas to Florida. Small populatio…
Habitat
Terrestrial. Deciduous and mixed woodlands & forests. Often hide under bark, rocks, leaf litter, and logs.
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap