Ribbon snakes are non-venomous. They pose no threat to humans in terms of poisonous bites. Ribbon snakes rely on their speed and agility to capture prey. Their primary defense mechanism is to flee rather than resort to venomous bites.
Ribbon snakes are a diverse species that inhabit several regions of the world. They have an array of defense mechanisms that help them stay ahead of predators. With conservation efforts, these creatures can continue to grace nature’s playgrounds.
Ribbon snakes are not dangerous or poisonous. They are shy, non-venomous reptiles. Ribbon snakes rarely exhibit violent behavior in self-defense. They are not dangerous to humans or pets and rarely bite if they come into direct contact.
With a body that’s thin as a ribbon, this slender snake grows up to 38 inches long. Eastern ribbon snakes are easier to care for than most other species.
What is the difference between a garter snake and a ribbon snake?
The key difference is body shape. Ribbon snakes are more slender than garter snakes. This gives ribbon snakes their name. Garter snakes are slim to medium snakes. One difference is facial markings. Ribbon snakes have a white marking in front of the eye that garter snakes lack. Garter snakes have a noticeable pattern to the labial scales. These traits identify ribbon snakes from garter snakes.
Habitat. How big is a ribbon snake in Texas? Litters can be 25 snakes. Each neonate is 9-12 inches. Habitat: The range of ribbon snake subspecies is widespread over Texas. They live in various habitats. What snake is a redstripe ribbon snake? It is a garter snake subspecies. Found in the US, they are small to medium size. They move very fast.
The Ribbon Snakes are garter snake relatives. They live widely in North America. Ribbon snakes average 15-30 inches. They have three yellow stripes on brown. Their chins are white. Bellies whitish-yellow.
Garter Snake bodies are rounder with shorter tails than ribbon snakes. This shape difference is from varying habitats and feeding. Snake. Body Shape. Ribbon. Slender, long tail. Garter. Rounded, short tail
The key ribbon snake vs garter snake difference is markings, colors and body shape. Though closely related, they differ where they live and eat. We address differences and frequently asked questions about the two species.
Can ribbon snakes be handled?
Description: Ribbon snakes are slender snakes, yellow with stripes of brown down the length of their bodies. Between the yellow side stripes is a brown side stripe. They have a white upper lip and a mahogany-colored head. Their side’s stripes are found on scale rows 3 and 4. Ribbon snakes have a plain yellowish belly with keeled scales. They prefer to stay near the shoreline because they feed on fish and amphibians.
The ribbon snake is a slender, striped snake, similar to the garter snake. However, ribbon snakes are more slender, with unpatterned lip scales. Tail length accounts for one third or more of total body length. They are boldly patterned with three yellow stripes on a reddish-brown background. Dark bands separate each side stripe from the belly. They have keeled scales and pale yellow or pale green bellies. Ribbon snakes generally mate in April-May and females give birth in July or August. They inhabit wetlands, ponds and stream edges. Amphibians are the preferred food.
They are nonvenomous, so popular pets. They are shy, so rarely bite people. They are active through the year but hibernate when too cold. If in danger, they either hide in bushes or flee to the water. Both ribbon snake species prefer to stay near water bodies. They differ from similar garter snakes by white spots in front of the eyes and patterns around the mouth. They share the same habitats but differ in head markings.
Can the ribbon snake swim?
Ribbon snakes live in wetlands or near water. They are good swimmers. Ribbon snakes eat small animals like frogs, fish, and insects. They are not poisonous. When threatened, they may release a bad smell or detach their tail. The tail does not grow back. Females carry eggs inside their bodies. Ribbon snakes like to hide in vegetation, burrows, and rock crevices. They bask in the sun but avoid open areas. Ribbon snakes range across North America. They are dark brown with bright yellow stripes along their bodies. Females are thicker than males. Ribbon snakes are intelligent and can escape enclosures. Their cages need tight lids. New ribbon snakes may hide at first before eating. Go slowly when first handling them. Despite liking water, keep their cage dry to prevent disease. Ribbon snakes need places to hide like logs, rocks and plants. Give them clean water to soak in and drink. Cooler days, they may coil under a heat lamp. There are two main ribbon snake species – eastern and western. Eastern ribbon snakes live from Canada to Florida.