Barry Mansell photo.

Scientific name: Thamnophis sauritus nitae

Description: Average adult size is 18-25 inches (45.7-63.5 cm), record is 30 inches (76.2 cm). Adults are slender-bodied, bluish-olive to blue-black with an indistinct mid-dorsal stripe, and a light blue stripe on each side of the body occupying the 2nd and 3rd dorsal scale rows above the belly. There are few light whitish fleckings on each side above the lateral stripes. There is a distinct white spot in front of the eye. The belly is uniform yellowish-green. The tail is very long, one-third of the total body length. The scales are keeled and there are 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juveniles are similar to that of adults.

Bluestripe ribbon snake: Left to right: Top of the head (notice the large plate-like scales on the top of the head);
underside of the head (chin and throat).

Bluestripe ribbon snake: Left to right: Side of the head; front (face view) of the head.

Range: In Florida, it occurs along the Gulf coast from eastern Wakulla Co. in the panhandle south to Hernando Co. in the central peninsula. It is not found outside of Florida.

Habitat: Commonly found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, cypress strands, prairies, marshes, streams, ponds, and bogs.

Comments: . The bluestripe ribbon snake is semiaquatic and active during the day. It is frequently found along the banks of canals and ditches, and around houses in residential areas. After heavy rains, it is sometimes found at night crossing roads in search of food.

It feeds on small fishes, frogs, salamanders, and earthworms.

It is live-bearing. Breeding occurs from April-June, from 5-27 newborns are deposited from July-September.

Comparison with other species: The peninsula ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus sackenii) and eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) have a distinct mid-dorsal stripe, and light stripes (not light blue) on their sides occupying the 3rd and 4th dorsal scale rows above the belly. The garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) are thicker-bodied, and have black-outlined scales on the upper lip.

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