Western Ribbonsnake

Back

non venomous

Scientific Name:

Thamnophis proximus

Family:

Colubridae

Photo by: Quentin Stiles

Keeled dorsal scales in 19 rows at mid-body, primarily back with a red stripe running the length f its body with two yellow strips running parallel two the red stripe one yellow strip on either side f the red stripe

How to identify:

Coloration:

Sharply defined longitudinal stripes: a vertebral stripe and two lateral, light colored stripes placed on the third and fourth scale rows.

Absence of checkerboard blotches seen in many other species of Thamnophis.

Absence of pigmentation outlining white supralabials.

Body shape is particularly slender when compared to other species of Thamnophis.

Elongated tail is much longer than other congeners.

There are four recognized subspecies of T. proximus found in Texas, all of whose definitions differ in the coloration of their stripes as well as their background color.

Diet:

Carnivore

Size:

Western Ribbonsnake can grow to be 20-30in long including the tail

Habitat:

Western Ribbonsnakes are found near water, whether in the form of ponds, streams, or swamps

Range of habitat:

Western Ribbnsnakes can be found in for South central United States, and ranges well through Mexico, along the Atlantic versant, reaching as far south as Costa Rica.

Orange counties indicate new records since previous Herps of Texas updated in 1998; all other colors represent counties with known Western Ribbonsnake population prior to 1998