Diadophis

Diadophis is a genus in Colubridae, the largest snake family and the group that holds most of the common, non-front-fanged snakes people meet in North America. The genus is best known for a single widely recognized species, the Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus), which ranges across much of the United States, into southern Canada, and down into parts of Mexico. Within Colubridae, ring-necked snakes sit among the small, ground-dwelling, semi-fossorial snakes that spend much of their lives under cover rather than out in the open.

Members are easy to recognize in general terms. They are slender and small, usually under 15 inches, with a smooth, often slate-gray to olive or blackish back and a distinct yellow, orange, or cream collar just behind the head. The belly is typically yellow to orange, sometimes reddening toward the tail, and some populations curl the tail to flash that bright underside as a defense. The contrast between the dark back and the bright ring and belly is the signature look, though collar width and belly color vary across the wide range.

Ring-necked snakes are harmless to people. They are technically rear-fanged with a mild saliva that helps subdue small prey, but they are not considered dangerous to humans and are not a medical threat. They are shy and rarely bite. They hide under rocks, logs, and leaf litter, often in moist woodland and rocky hillsides, and are frequently found in loose colonies. Their diet is mostly earthworms, slugs, salamanders, small frogs, and other tiny prey, and they lay small clutches of eggs in summer. If anyone is ever bitten by a snake they cannot identify, or has a serious reaction, treat it as an emergency and contact US Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or local emergency services rather than relying on field identification.