Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae Pituophis melanoleucas: bullsnake

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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Pituophis
melanoleucas bullsnake)

• Identification
• Dorsal scales keeled
• Dark blotches on yellowish dorsum (contrast
  strongest at ends of body)
• Dark line from eye to jaw angle
• Hatchlings grayish
• Anal plate undivided
• Large (length to 183 cm 6 feet)

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
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From Christoffel et al. 2000
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Pituophis melanoleucas bullsnake

• Habitat
• Large prairies
• Prefer loose, sandy
• soil (burrowing)
• Diet
• Primarily mammals
• Constrict or swallow prey whole
• Kill rodents by pressing against them in burrow

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
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Pituophis melanoleucas bullsnake

• Reproduction
• Breed in May
• Oviparous (eggs deposited in sand)
• Hatch in August-September
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
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Pituophis melanoleucas bullsnake

• Conservation
• A species of special concern in IA
• Protected by law
• Decline caused by loss
• and fragmentation of prairie habitat
• Other
• Largest IA snake
• Hiss loudly when threatened
• May strike and bite

http//foxgloveg.tripod.com/herping.html
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Regina
grahamii Grahams crayfish snake)

• Identification
• Dorsal scales keeled
• Dorsum brown
• Yellow lateral stripe
• Venter yellow, occasional central row of dark
  spots
• Melanistic form (dark above, below)
• Anal plate undivided
• Length to 71 cm
• 2.25 feet)

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
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Regina grahamii Grahams crayfish snake

• Habitat
• Wetlands
• Diet
• Crayfish (primarily or exclusively)
• Fish, amphibians

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/crayfishsnake_Close.jpg
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Regina grahamii Grahams crayfish snake

• Reproduction
• Mate in spring
• Viviparous (young born in September)
• Distribution
• Southern, central IA

http//www.cnah.org/images/herps/290.jpg
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
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Regina grahamii Grahams crayfish snake

• Conservation
• Protected in IA
• Distribution, abundance, poorly known
• Declining (loss of marsh habitat)
• Other
• Rarely bite when handled

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Tropidoclon
ion lineatum lined snake)

• Identification
• Dorsal scales keeled
• Dorsum brown
• Dorsal, lateral stripes (color variable
• Lateral stripe on scale rows 2 and 3
• Half-moons on venter
• Hatchlings lack body markings
• Anal plate undivided
• Length to 38 cm 1 foot

http//spongebob.ncsa.uiuc.edu/mike/snakes/
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/
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From Christoffel et al. 2000
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Tropidoclonion lineatum lined snake

• Habitat
• Grassy areas
• (short and tall)
• Woodland edges
• Diet
• Earthworms, other soft-bodied invertebrates

http//www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/misc/linsna.htm
l
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Tropidoclonion lineatum lined snake

• Reproduction
• Live young born in autumn
• Distribution
• Northwestern, southern IA

http//www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/misc/linsna.htm
l
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/
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Tropidoclonion lineatum lined snake

• Conservation
• Protected in IA
• Distribution, abundance poorly known
• Other
• Rarely bites does no damage

http//www.cnah.org/images/herps/409.jpg
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Thamnophis
sirtalis common garter snake)
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes

• Identification
• Dorsal scales keeled
• Dorsum variable in color
• Dorsal, lateral stripes (variable color
  sometimes broken into spots)
• Lateral stripe on scale rows 2 and 3
• Venter lacks half moons
• Anal plate undivided
• Length to 66 cm 2 feet

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http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
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http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
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Thamnophis sirtalis common garter snake

• Habitat
• Grassy areas (tall, short), woodlands
• Prefer moist habitat (common near water)
• Diet
• Variety of invertebrates, vertebrates (including
  carrion)
• Grasp, chew and swallow prey

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
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Thamnophis sirtalis common garter snake

• Reproduction
• Mate in spring
• Viviparous (young born in late summer, autumn)
• Up to 70 young in litter
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
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Thamnophis sirtalis common garter snake

• Conservation
• Common
• Other
• Often aggressive
• Strikes and bites (painless), emits musk,
  excrement

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Thamnophis
proximus western ribbon snake)

• Identification
• Dorsal scales keeled
• Long, thin tail
• Dorsum blackish
• Dorsal stripe usually orange
• Light-colored lateral stripes
• Lateral stripe on scale rows 3 and 4
• White Venter
• Anal plate undivided
• Length to 76 cm

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
From Christoffel et al. 2000
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Thamnophis proximus western ribbon snake
http//nettleton.crsc.k12.ar.us/jhudspeth/ribbons
nake.jpg

• Habitat
• Highly aquatic
• Near slow- and fast-flowing water bodies
• Diet
• Fish, amphibians, earthworms

http//www.agamen.de/thams/fotos/proxi01.jpg
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Thamnophis proximus western ribbon snake

• Reproduction
• Mate in spring
• Viviparous (young born in late summer, autumn)
• Distribution
• Southern half of IA

http//www.kentuckysnakes.org/snakes/westernribbon
-mid.jpg
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
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Thamnophis proximus western ribbon snake

• Conservation
• Less common than other Thamnophis
• Other
• Very swift
• Good climbers
• Unlikely to bite

http//www.agamen.de/thams/fotos/prox3_1805.jpg
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Thamnophis
radix plains garter snake)

• Identification
• Dorsal scales keeled
• Dorsum black, brown, green, red
• Dorsal stripe yellow, orange
• Lateral stripe blue, green
• Lateral stripe on scale rows 3 and 4
• Rows of black spots between stripes
• Black bars on yellow upper lip
• Anal plate undivided
• Length to 71 cm 2.25 feet

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/
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http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/
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Thamnophis radix plains garter snake

• Habitat
• Grassy areas (short, tall), woodland edge
• Prefer drier habitat than T. sirtalis
• Diet
• Mice, bird eggs, invertebrates

http//www.ryanphotographic.com/Plains20garter20
snake20Thamnophis20radix.jpg
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Thamnophis radix plains garter snake

• Reproduction
• Mate in spring
• Viviparous (young born in late summer, autumn)
• Up to 70 in a litter
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//www.chicagoherp.org/herps/pics/snake/xTradi
x1.jpg
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/
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Thamnophis radix plains garter snake

• Conservation
• Common
• Other
• More docile than T. sirtalis

http//www.herpjournal.com/2004/Kansas_2/05_17_04/
pages/05_17_04.html