Some have been know to hybridize, and therefore contain characteristics of both parent species (Harding 1997). Storeria occipitomaculata subspecies are also hard to differentiate. The female tail is approximately 17-22 percent of the total body length and the male's tail makes up 21-25 percent of the total body length (Harding 1997). However, males generally have longer tails than females. Compared with adults, newborn snakes are darker above and lighter below, and the nape spots create a more distinct neck collar (Harding 1997).ĭistinguishing the sex of red-bellied snakes is difficult unless the female is pregnant and therefore heavier and larger. Red-bellied snakes are just 7-11 cm at birth. They have keeled scales and a divided anal plate. There are 110-133 ventral scales and 35-61 caudal scales. There are three light spots around the neck (one on top and one on each side) that can mix together to form a collar. The head is usually brown or reddish brown on top with a white throat and chin underneath. The belly is usually a striking bright red, but is known to occur in orange, faint yellow, pink, and infrequently in gray or black. Occasionally there will be only one, light colored, middorsal stripe, or all five stripes may occur together. They are usually brown to reddish brown (although sometimes gray and rarely black) with or without 4 faint, dark dorsal stripes. The red-bellied snake is a very small snake total body length ranges from 20.3 cm to 40.6 cm (8-16 in) when fully grown. Occasionally red-bellied snakes are seen basking in the open sun and sometimes climb into low shrubs and other vegetation (Harding 1997). They tend to hide in vacant lots around trash, under boards, and other debris. Quite often they are seen around human habitations. However, they are still common in drier sites such as pastures and grasslands adjacent to woodlands (Harding 1997, Semlitsch and Moran 1984). They often hide under bark, logs, rocks, and leaf litter. Unsurprisingly, they are often found in mesic environments, such as river bays, creek bottomlands, and sphagnum bogs where slugs, snails and worms are readily available. They generally like a damp, moist, and cool environment. Red-bellied snakes are most abundant in deciduous and mixed woodlands. Red-bellied snakes are locally common in woodlands throughout their range (Harding 1997, Smith and Brodie 1982). Another subspecies, Storeria occipitomaculata obscura, is found in Florida and west along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas. However, a subspecies, Storeria occipitomaculata pahasapae, is found in disjunct populations in the Black Hills of western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. The Great Plains may act as a barrier to the west, considering that they are also absent from large areas of remnant prairie lands in the parts of the midwest and east. Storeria occipitomaculata, the red-bellied snake, ranges from eastern North Dakota to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, and west to eastern Texas.
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