To use any images on this site please contact me at: mniemill@utk.edu © 2010 Some aspects of the eastern ribbon snake make it different from a close relative, the common garter snake. They are distinguishable due to the three lines running conspicuously along their body. These chemicals are fed by the tongue to a special organ located on the roof of the mouth. Common Ribbonsnake (T. s. sauritus), the only subspecies in the state, occurs in West Tennessee and in several counties on the Highland Rim in southern and western Middle Tennessee. Best places to see in Tennessee: Around the edges and backwaters of Reelfoot Lake. Females are a bit longer and thicker than males. Mating occurs just before summer, mostly in May. Small carnivorous mammals, such as weasels and raccoons, eagles, shore birds, such as herons, king snakes, etc., all feed on ribbon snakes. Ribbon snakes are found in eastern North America, including the eastern and Midwestern USA, and Canada. Status in Tennessee: Uncommon due to its very limited distribution in TN. The belly is greenish white in color and there are no blotches. We provide informative articles about caring for pets that you can come back to again and again when you have questions or want to learn more! Houghton Mifflin Company, New York. They reach sexual maturity by the end of the second year. The eastern ribbon snake gets its name from its very thin body. The mating usually occurs during the fall. Breeding information: Mating occurs in spring and the young are born alive in late summer or autumn. They are not known to bite humans or anyone else if provoked. Orange-striped Ribbonsnakes are afforded no protection in the state. It also has two rows of black spots between the back and side stripes. Thamnophis sauritus sauritus, the eastern ribbon snake or common ribbon snake, is one of four subspecies of the ribbon snake found in the southeastern United States.. It has a very thin body and that is why the name Ribbon snake is so appropriate. In case of a danger approaches, they either hide in the bushes or take to the water. At maturity, it grows to between 18 and 86 centimetres (7.1 and 33.9 in) in length. Their vision is good and they can see the predator coming from a distance. Garter snakes are defined by the genus Thamnophis. They do not dive like water snakes; they glide across the surface of the water, instead. O voviviparous – producing eggs that are hatched within the body, so that the young are born alive but without placental attachment, as certain reptiles or fishes. These cookies do not store any personal information. The rest of the belly is a greenish-white color.

Males insert a copulatory plug, which prevents the mating of other males with that female. These snakes have quite a variable diet. Between the yellow lateral stripes and the belly there is a brown lateral stripe. The forked tongues are capable of collecting the chemicals from the air and surrounding areas. remove Eastern Ribbon Snake.

All these snakes live close to water. Two ribbon snakes, the Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus) and the Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) inhabit Tennessee. Behavior: Eastern Ribbonsnakes are a quick, wary snakes that moves to water, shoreline vegetation, or holes in the soil when disturbed. An average of 12 young snakes are produced, though the number can range from 3 to 27. It is dark brown with bright yellow stripes. Western Ribbonsnake One subspecies, Orange-striped Ribbonsnake (T. p. proximus), occurs in Tennessee and it is found in only 4 counties in the far western part of the state. The average number of young is around 12 but can range four to 27. 2008. Johnson, T.R. Here’s a quick list of additional Tennessee Colubrid or nonvenomous snakes. Habitat: These semi-aquatic snakes prefer areas near water such as streams, rivers, wetlands, sloughs, and ponds. Females deliver 4-28 young (average 12-13) in a litter. Their diet includes small fishes, frogs, toads, tadpoles, salamanders and insects. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1).

What to Consider When You Compare Pet Insurance Policies, VIP Petcare: Services, Prices, and Locations, What to Know Before Buying a Pet Waste Station. Conant, R. and Collins, J. Ball Pythons for Sale. One stripe runs down the center of the back, which may have orangish or greenish tinge, and one runs down each side located on the 3rd and 4thscale rows (counting up from the belly scales). Range: These snakes are found primarily in west Tennessee, but is also known to occur in several counties on the Highland Rim in southern and western Middle Tennessee. Behavior: Subspecies Occurring in Tennessee: Tennessee is home to only 1 subspecies of western ribbonsnake, T. p. proximus (Orange-striped Ribbonsnake). Copyright © Pet Ponder & Buzzle.com, Inc. Diet: The ribbon snake generally eats small fish, tadpoles, salamanders, small frogs and toads, and occasionally insects. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. They are known in binomial nomenclature as Thamnophis sauritus. It also has a long tail that is about one-third of the length of its body. Northern Ribbon Snake They may use burrows dug by other animals for shelter, but usually prefer dense vegetation.

One of these is at the center of the back while other two are on either side. Between the yellow lateral stripes and the belly there is a brown lateral stripe.

The Eastern Ribbon Snakes are known to feed on amphibians.

1998. They do not bite or tear the prey but swallow them whole. Ribbon snakes are a single species of garter snakes.

Biology: The Eastern Ribbon snake is a variety of ribbon snake and is also called the Common Ribbon snake.

These snakes hit sexual maturity at around 2 years of age. The labial scales as present around the mouth are either white or bright yellow in color and are unmarked.

This distribution has led to its alternative name, the peninsula (referring to Florida) ribbon snake. The chances of their presence increase as we move from the mountains to the coastal regions. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The particular diet of a local population depends on the availability of various animals there, but in general, it consists of lizards, rats, frogs and toads, salamanders, fish, molluscs, such as snails and slugs, insects, etc.. Some similar species are the western ribbon snake, common garter snake, plains garter snake, and Butler's garter snake..

They also have the ability of secreting a foul smell from their anal glands to drive away the predator. [5] Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus sauritus (Linnaeus, 1766) Found south of the Great Lakes basin and north of the Florida peninsula and southeastern Georgia. After birth, no parental care is involved; the young are left to fend for themselves.

We service 152 US Locations - Click here to Find Your Town. The It is a non-venomous species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. Females give birth to offspring during late summer. Also, unlike water snakes, they do not dive into the water but glide over its surface. A brown stripe of one or two rows of scales extends onto the sides of the belly. No articles about garter snakes in Tennessee have been published on Gartersnake.info yet. Females grow slightly longer in size than the males. Thamnophis sauritus Description: Eastern Ribbonsnakes are slender snakes that range from 16-28 in. The northern ribbon snake has the next largest territory, being found around the Great Lakes between Maine, Ontario, and Indiana. When they are frightened, they take to the water or bushes. It is not venomous. Description: A slender, medium-sized snake (18.0 to 26.0 inches in length) with long tail (approximately 1/3 of the total length) and keeled scales. Description: Ribbon snakes are slender snakes that range from 16-28 in. 2006. They are among the most slender garter snakes. There are black spots running over two rows between the side stripes and the back. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This makes them popular pets, since there are many attractive color morphs of ribbon snakes, and they don’t pose any danger to even kids. When escaping into water, these snakes glide smoothly across the surface instead of diving. Also, striking at your 4 wheeler doesn't sound like ribbon snake behavior, but I've heard of garter snakes acting like this.

They have three light, usually yellow, stripes (two along the sides and one down the center of the back) against a dark background.

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Subfamily: Natricinae Genus: Thamnophis Species: T. sauritus There are four subspecies of ribbon snakes: The eastern ribbon snake (T. s. sauritus), the western ribbon snake (T. s. nitae), the northern ribbon snake (T. s. septentrionalis), and the southern ribbon snake (T. s. sackeni). The other three subspecies are the northern (T. s. septentrionalis), southern (T. s. sackenii), and bluestripe (T. s. nitae) ribbon snakes.