Kenneth L. Krysko photo.

Scientific name: Thamnophis sauritus sauritus

Description: Average adult size is 20-34 inches (50.8-86.3 cm), record is 38 inches (96.5 cm). Adults are slender-bodied, olive-black with a light tannish-brown, orange, or yellow mid-dorsal stripe. There is an additional light tannish stripe on each side of the body occupying the 3rd and 4th dorsal scale rows above the belly. There are light whitish fleckings on each side between the mid-dorsal and 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.

Eastern 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).

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

Range: In Florida, it occurs in the panhandle. Outside of Florida, it is found from eastern Louisiana north to southern Maine.

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

Comments: . The eastern 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 March-June. Newborns are deposited in the summer.

Comparison with other species: The bluestripe ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus nitae) has light blue stripes on its sides occupying the 2nd and 3rd dorsal scale rows above the belly. The garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) are thicker-bodied, have their lateral stripes occupying the 2nd and 3rd dorsal scale rows above the belly, and black-outlined scales on the upper lip.

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