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 yellow dorsum (contrast strong
  on tail)
• Dark line from eye to jaw angle
• Hatchlings grayish
• Anal plate undivided
• Large (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 Prairies with loose soil (burrow)
• Diet Primarily mammals constrict or swallow
  whole kill by pressing against burrow wall
• Reproduction Egg layers (oviparous)

http//foxgloveg.tripod.com/herping.html
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Pituophis melanoleucas bullsnake

• Distribution Statewide
• Conservation Species of special concern (IDNR)
  habitat loss
• Other Hisses, strikes, bites

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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Regina
grahamii Grahams crayfish snake)
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes/

• Keeled scales brown with yellow lateral stripe
  (some melanistic)
• Wetlands
• Eat crayfish, some vertebrates
• Viviparous
• South, central IA

http//www.cnah.org/images/herps/290.jpg
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Regina grahamii Grahams crayfish snake
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/sna
kes/crayfishsnake_Close.jpg
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Tropidoclon
ion lineatum lined snake)

• Keeled scales dorsal stripe lateral stripe
  (scale rows 2-3) half-moons on venter
  hatchlings lack marks anal plate undivided
• Grassland, woodland edge
• Soft-bodied invertebrates
• Viviparous
• Northwestern, southern IA
• Bites rarely no damage

http//spongebob.ncsa.uiuc.edu/mike/snakes/
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Tropidoclonion lineatum lined snake
http//www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/misc/linsna.htm
l
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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 color
• Dorsal, lateral stripes (sometimes broken)
• Lateral stripe on scale rows 2 and 3
• 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 Grasslands, woodlands common near water
• Diet Invertebrates, vertebrates, carrion grasp,
  chew, swallow

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

• Reproduction Viviparous
• Distribution Statewide
• Conservation common
• Other variable temperment (some strike, bite)
  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)

• Keeled scales long, thin tail dorsum black
  dorsal stripe lateral stripe on scale rows 3 and
  4 white venter anal plate undivided
• Very aquatic
• Worms, fish, amphibians
• Viviparous
• Southern half of IA
• Swift climb well
• Rarely bite

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/reptiles/s
nakes
http//nettleton.crsc.k12.ar.us/jhudspeth/ribbons
nake.jpg
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Suborder Serpentes, Family Colubridae(Thamnophis
radix plains garter snake)

• Identification
• Dorsal scales keeled
• Variable body color
• Dorsal stripe
• Lateral stripe on rows 3-4
• Spots between stripes
• Bars on 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 Grassland, woodland edge (drier than T.
  sirtalis)
• Diet Mice, bird eggs, invertebrates
• Reproduction Viviparous

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

• Distribution Statewide
• Conservation Common

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