Quick Answer
The orange striped ribbon snake, also known as the eastern ribbon snake or Thamnophis sauritus sauritus, is a nonvenomous species of snake found in the eastern United States. Ribbon snakes are completely harmless to humans and not poisonous.
Overview of the Orange Striped Ribbon Snake
The orange striped ribbon snake is a slender, medium-sized colubrid snake that is endemic to North America. Some key facts about this species include:
– Scientific name: Thamnophis sauritus sauritus
– Average adult size: 18-26 inches long
– Color pattern: Bright orange stripes on a brownish or blackish background
– Habitat: Near the edges of wetlands and ponds
– Diet: Frogs, salamanders, small fish, and insects
– Behavior: Diurnal (active during the day), mostly terrestrial but good swimmer
– Reproduction: Ovoviviparous (live-bearing)
– Conservation status: Least Concern
The orange striped ribbon snake is one of several subspecies of the common ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus). It has a close relative known as the eastern ribbon snake (T. s. sauritus) which has a very similar appearance and geographic range.
Are Ribbon Snakes Poisonous or Venomous?
No, ribbon snakes are not poisonous or venomous. They do not produce any venom and their bites are harmless to humans.
Like nearly all colubrid snakes, the orange striped ribbon snake kills its prey through constriction. It wraps its body around small animals like frogs and suffocates them until death.
Some key reasons why ribbon snakes poses no danger to humans:
– Lack venom glands – Venomous snakes like rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads all have modified salivary glands that produce toxic venoms used for killing and digestion. Ribbon snakes completely lack these specialized glands.
– Rear-facing fangs – Even if it had venom, the orange striped ribbon snake lacks the anatomical adaptations like hollow front fangs to effectively deliver venom. Their teeth are small, numerous, and designed for grasping slippery prey rather than injecting venom.
– Docile nature – Ribbon snakes have mild dispositions and are unlikely to bite even if threatened. They rely on camouflage and quick getaways from predators rather than fighting back.
– Small size – With their slender bodies, ribbon snakes cannot deliver a harmful amount of venom based on body size even if they were venomous. But again, they produce no venom whatsoever.
So in short, the orange striped ribbon snake is harmless and should not be killed out of fear that it’s dangerous. No antivenom or medical treatment is required if bitten. The small teeth may break the skin and cause slight bleeding but cannot envenomate.
Identification and Lookalike Species
Properly identifying the orange striped ribbon snake is important since somelookalike snakes are venomous. Here are some key ID tips:
– Orange and black stripes – Signature trait of this subspecies. The oranges stripes are bright and vivid.
– Thin body – Slender with a small head and thin neck, giving a graceful appearance.
– Size – Usually 18-26 inches long when fully grown. Significantly smaller than many other snakes.
– Scales – Smooth, glossy scales with no ridge running down the center.
– Head shape – Relatively small but distinct from the neck, unlike venomous coral snakes.
– Pupils – Round pupils unlike the vertical cat-eye pupils of venomous pit vipers.
The most common snake that the orange striped ribbon snake is confused with is the venomous eastern coral snake. Some key differences:
| Orange Striped Ribbon Snake | Eastern Coral Snake |
|---|---|
| Thin body | Thicker body shape |
| Slender head distinct from neck | Head barely wider than neck |
| Round pupils | Vertical pupils |
| Smooth glossy scales | Rougher, keeled scales |
| Orange and black rings completely encircle body | Red and black rings do not fully encircle |
The sequence of the bands can also distinguish them – if red touches yellow, it’s the venomous coral snake. If orange touches black, it’s the harmless ribbon snake. The mild-natured ribbon snake should not be killed due to confusion with coral snakes. When in doubt, admire from a safe distance and let the snake move along unharmed.
Habitat and Geographic Range
The orange striped ribbon snake inhabits moist environments near freshwater throughout much of eastern North America. Its range extends:
– West to central Texas
– North to southern Wisconsin
– East to Virginia and the coasts of the Carolinas
– South to the Gulf Coast
Within this wide geographic area, ribbon snakes frequent:
– Marshes, ponds, and shorelines
– Wet meadows and grassy marshes
– Swamps, sloughs, and floodplain forests
– Damp woods and thickets near water
They are almost always found near water where prey like frogs and tadpoles thrive. Quickly diving into water to escape predators is also key to their survival.
Due to their bright colors, ribbon snakes are sometimes known as “garter snakes of the swamp”. But they differ in preferring much wetter habitats compared to the grassy, open areas favored by most garter snakes.
Behavior and Diet
Orange striped ribbon snakes exhibit unique behaviors and feeding strategies:
– Diurnal activity – unlike many snakes, ribbon snakes are active during the day rather than nocturnal. Their bright colors advertise their presence.
– Foraging by day – they actively hunt for prey like frogs, tadpoles, and small fish during daytime hours.
– Swimming – they are one of the most aquatic species of North American snakes, swimming with sinuous lateral undulations of their bodies.
– Prey constriction – they grab prey in their jaws, then wrap their bodies tightly around the animal to suffocate and subdue it.
– Diet – they are carnivorous and known to eat frogs, salamanders, small fish, tadpoles, worms, and insects like crickets. Any small animal near their aquatic habitats may be consumed.
– No threat displays – ribbon snakes do not bite defensively. When threatened, they flee quickly to water or attempt to hide.
In summary, the orange striped ribbon snake is a diurnal predator exquisitely adapted to hunting in and along the water’s edge. It is an adept swimmer and its venom-free bite presents no danger to humans who encounter it.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Orange striped ribbon snakes are live-bearing snakes with the following reproductive traits:
– Spring mating – courtship and breeding occur from April to June after emerging from brumation.
– Male combat – males wrestle fiercely for the right to mate with females. Several may try grasping a female at once.
– Ovoviviparous birth – embryos develop internally and mothers give live birth to young in late summer rather than laying eggs.
– Brood size – litters range from 7-20 young, with 10-12 being typical.
– Birth size – newborns are only 4-7 inches long but grow rapidly, able to double in size within a year.
– Maturity – males reach sexual maturity at around 18 months old. Females mature after two years.
– Lifespan – wild ribbon snakes may live up to 10 years. Some in captivity have exceeded 15 years.
In good conditions with ample food, orange striped ribbon snakes can produce decent sized broods multiple times per year once sexually mature. This helps offset their many predators in the wild.
Threats and Conservation
Some key threats facing orange striped ribbon snake populations:
– Habitat loss – Draining wetlands and pollution of freshwater systems removes crucial habitat. Agricultural and urban development causes large-scale wetland destruction.
– Roads – Ribbon snakes concentrating around wetlands are killed in high numbers on roads bordering their habitats.
– Human persecution – Some killings still occur out of mistaken belief these snakes are venomous. Education efforts are important.
– Predation – birds, larger snakes, mammals, turtles, large fish, and other predators take a heavy toll on wild ribbon snakes. Up to 80% or more may die each year.
– Climate change – Could affect prey populations and suitability of wetland habitats.
Despite these threats, ribbon snake numbers are stable overall and the species faces no imminent risks. But continued preservation of wetlands and protecting mitigation sites are important conservation measures for maintaining orange striped ribbon snake populations. When identified correctly by humans, they are much appreciated for their beauty rather than being persecuted. Ongoing education can help in distinguishing them from venomous species with similar patterning like coral snakes.
Conclusion
In summary, the orange striped ribbon snake is an attractive and specialized species exquisitely adapted for hunting in aquatic habitats of the eastern United States. It poses no threat to humans, with its small size and complete lack of venom making it harmless. Correct identification of ribbon snakes is key to separating them from dangerous lookalike species. Preserving the wetlands and waterways they depend on through habitat protection and road impact mitigation will help ensure the ongoing survival of these fascinating reptiles. With proper environmental stewardship and education about snake identification, orange striped ribbon snakes and humans can continue to coexist without conflict across the snake’s wide geographic range.