Combination of constriction and envenomation to secure prey. Ringneck snakes can be found in areas with abundant cover, they prefer moist soil.ĭiet: Worms, slugs, frogs, lizards and smaller snakes. Beautiful orange, red, yellow posterior with black spots and red to orange tail section. Plains Blackhead Snake ( Tantilla nigriceps)ĭescription: Color varies slate grey, olive, brown, bluish grey with a yellow to orange ring around the neck. The Northern water snake is the only species of water snake in Colorado. Northern water snakes will defend themselves vigorously. When provoked they will bite repeatedly, and release a foul smelling musk. They mate from April - June, they are live-bearers giving birth to as many as 30 young at a time, between August and October. Natural History: Northern water snakes are active during the day and night. They forage in reeds, and plants along side the bank.ĭiet: Fish, Frogs, Tadpoles, Crayfish, Birds, Mammals, Worms, Leeches They can be found basking on shore, rocks or in low branches above the water. Habitat: They live near lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and canals and like to hide in branches, piles of sticks, reeds. Usually have dark cross bands on there neck and blotches on there bodies. Heavy bodied, keeled scales, underside lighter in color. Species is in need of conservation.ĭescription: Northern Water Snakes vary in color from brown, grey, reddish to black. It is even one of the most potent venoms found in North America , It is characterized by the presence of a presynaptic neurotoxin, referred to as concolor toxin, the amount of which varies in individual snakes. oreganus / C.viridis group, although there is apparently considerable variability among local populations. This subspecies possesses the most toxic venom of the C. Natural History: Little is known about this species, lots of debate regarding hybrids, ongoing genetic testing will sort out a lot. Habitat: Westslope of Colorado in rocky outcrops.ĭiet: Lizards, rodents and small mammals. In juveniles the pattern is distinct, but becomes faded in adults, almost to the point where it is indistinguishable from the ground color. Great Plains Rat Snake ( Pantherophis emoryi)ĭescription: The color pattern consists of a pinkish, pale brown, yellow-brown, straw-colored, reddish or yellow-brown ground color, overlaid with a series of brown elliptical or rectangular dorsal blotches. Hatchlings emerge August - September average size 12 -18 inches. Eggs laid from June - August average clutch size 7 can range from 3 - 24 eggs. Hissing loudly, along with shaking of the tail, mimicking the sound of a deadly rattlesnake. When defending themselves from predators, they will elevate and inflate the body, and flatten the head into a triangular shape. Natural History: Great climbers, swimmers and burrower. Habitat: Found throughout the West Slope in all habitat types.ĭiet: Insects, Lizards, Birds, Eggs, Small Mammals The underbelly has a creamy color with small, dark, irregular blotches. The body scales are keeled, and the head has a pointed shape. On each side of the neck there usually is a dark longitudinal stripe that is surrounded by some lighter coloring, which eventually breaks up towards the posterior end of the snake and turns into dashes or small spots. Also known as the Red-sided Garter Snake.Ĭommon Kingsnake ( Lampropeltis getula holbrooki/splendida) Speckled Kingsnakeĭescription: The Great Basin gopher snake has dorsal spots that are dark brown or black, and they are connected to each other by very narrow lines that run along each side of the anterior part of the body. Young born in late summer or fall litters are large, varying from 4-85. Natural History: Named Common Garter not all that common in Colorado this species we encounter way less than the other species of garter snakes except for Blackneck Garters. Habitat: Found in a wide variety of habitats, including marshes and wet meadows, margins of ponds, woodland and woodland edge, floodplains and cultivated fields prefers areas with moderately moist vegetation.ĭiet: Feeds mainly on frogs and earthworms occasionally eats toads, small mice and other small snakes. Belly is white, greenish or gray, with a row of small dark spots along edges. Three yellow body stripes, those on each side of body situated on second and third scale rows (counting from belly up) pattern of black spots on a red background between the stripes on the back.
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