Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus)


Group	Snakes
Code	ARADB10010
Order	Squamata
Family	Colubridae
Author	(Linnaeus, 1766)
Rank	G5 (definitions)
Occurrence	P (definitions)
Scale	C (definitions)

County List:


Western UP	all
Eastern UP	all
Northern LP	all
Southern LP	all

Rule:

Forested or Mixed Forested/Nonforested Landscapes

      (Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Upland Conifer (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
      or (Mixed Northern Hardwoods (Sm Saw or Lg Saw or Uneven))
   containing:
      (Snags and (Dead Down Woody Debris or Rock))

view decision rule term definitions

Habitat List:

Habitats	Regen	Sap	Pole	Sm Saw	Lg Saw	Uneven
Aspen	no	no	no	no	no	-
Paper Birch	no	no	no	no	no	-
Oak	no	no	no	no	no	no
Assorted Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Spruce/Fir	no	no	no	no	no	no
Hemlock	no	no	no	no	no	no
Jack Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Red Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
White Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Conifer Plantations	no	no	no	no	no	-
Mixed Upland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Northern Hardwoods	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Mixed Upland Conifer	no	no	no	YES	YES	YES
Mixed Pine	no	no	no	no	no	no
Swamp Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Balsam Poplar & Swamp Aspen & Swamp Birch	no	no	no	no	no	no
Bottomland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Tamarack	no	no	no	no	no	no
Northern White Cedar	no	no	no	no	no	no
Black Spruce	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Hardwoods	no	no	no	no	no	no
Mixed Lowland Conifer	no	no	no	no	no	no
Non-Forested	none
Special Features	Dead Down Woody Debris, Rock, Snags

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Literature:

Holman, J. A., J. H. Harding, M. M. Hensley, and G. R. Dudderar. 1999. Michigan snakes a field guide and pocket reference. Co-operative Extension Service, Michigan State University. 72 pp.

This species prefers moist woodlands. It is very secretive and is usually found hiding under flat objects like the bark of dead trees. Ring-necked snakes are inoffensive and rarely bite when handled. They feed on earthworms, amphibians, and occasionally, other snakes. In Michigan, they are reported to feed largely on the Red-backed salamander.

Female Northern ring-necked snakes lay from 1 to 10 elongated eggs in rotted wood or under loose bark, usually in late June. Hatching occurs in late summer.

DeGraaf, R. M. and D. D. Rudis. 1986. New England wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. GTR NE-108. Broomall, PA:USDA, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491 pp.

Habitat: Secretive, found under cover especially in moist shady woodlands with abundant hiding cover; stony woodland pastures, rocks, stone walls, old woodland junk piles, logs, debris, loose bark of logs and stumps; shale banks in Maine, and boards are all used as cover.

Special Habitat Requirements: Mesic areas with abundant cover.

Hunter, M. L., J. Albright, and J. Arbuckle (editors). 1992. The amphibians and reptiles of Maine. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 838. 188p.

Habitat: The northern ringneck is generally considered a snake of moist woodland habitats. Ringnecks are nocturnal animals and are very rarely found abroad during daylight hours, Because of this, they prefer habitats with an abundance of hiding places such as rock piles, stone walls, old boards, bark piles, and decaying logs. Minton stated that ringnecks are not true burrowers, but use objects on the ground surface for cover.