Description: The eastern ribbon snake gets its name from its very thin body. At maturity, it grows to between 7.1 and 33.9 inches in length. It is a slender, black snake with a yellow mid-back stripe and one on each side. A brown stripe of one or two rows of scales extends onto the sides of the belly. The rest of the belly is a greenish-white color. It also has two rows of black spots between the back and side stripes. It also has a long tail that is about one-third of the length of its body. The labial scales around the mouth of the snake are unmarked and uniformly bright yellow or white. A white or light yellow bar borders the front of the eyes. Juveniles are colored like adults. Some aspects of the eastern ribbon snake make it different from a close relative, the common garter snake. The eastern ribbon snake has a much thinner body than a common garter snake, its tail makes up about one-third of its body length, it has stripes on the third and fourth scale rows and it has pure white lips and a mark of white color in front of its eyes. It is not venomous.

Habitat: The common ribbon snake is typically found in the southeastern United States, usually in wetlands and near the edges of ponds and streams. They are found both in and out of water; they are adapted to both environments. When they are frightened, they take to the water or bushes. They do not dive like water snakes; they glide across the surface of the water instead.

Range: The eastern ribbon snake can typically be found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It ranges from the southern region of New England throughout southern Ohio and Indiana to the Mississippi River. The Ribbon snake can be found throughout the rest of the southeast except for southern Georgia and peninsular Florida.

Found in these States: AL | CT | DE | FL | GA | IL | IN | KY | LA | MA | MD | MS | NC | NH | NJ | NY | OH | PA | RI | SC | TN | VA | WV

Diet: The ribbon snake generally eats small fish, tadpoles, salamanders, small frogs and toads, and occasionally insects. In some cases, the female has been observed eating her young. The typical time for snakes to hunt is in the morning or early evening. Once the snake has spotted its prey, it will quickly slither to catch its prey and swallow it whole.

Reproduction: Mating typically occurs when snakes emerge from hibernation. Males seek out females and attempt to mate with them.

Mating takes place soon after these snakes have emerged from hibernation in the spring, they also sometimes mate in the fall. Live young are born in late summer, litter size ranges from 4 to 27 young, with 12 being average. Young snakes grow rapidly and often become mature before their second year, though some females don't breed until their third year.

The young are nurtured inside of their mother's body until they are born. Once they are born there is no further parental care.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Taxonomy: