Eastern Hognose Snake - Heterodon platirhinos
Description: 20 - 33 ½" (51 - 85 cm). Color is variable from black to brown to olive to orange. Tip of nose is upturned. Scales are heavily keeled. Blotched patterns often present on back. Will often play dead and flatten head. This species is completely harmless. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: This species is fairly common at BNL but extremely rare elsewhere on Long Island. It is listed as a "Special Concern" species by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The loss of this snake is likely to be directly correlated to loss of habitat. This species has several means of defense. If startled this snake may play dead, rattle it's tail like a rattlesnake, or flatten its head like a cobra. It prefers Pine Barrens with sandy soils and ample basking areas. Mates from May to late June. 4-60 thin shelled 1 ¼" eggs deposited in sandy soil June and July. Young hatch August and September at 6.5-10". ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Tim Green or Jeremy Feinberg.
SPECIAL
FEATURE: Click here to
listen to the sound of one of our hognose snakes hissing. Be sure to
turn you speakers on before clicking.
Northern Brown Snake - Storeria dekayi dekayi
Description: 9 - 13 ¾" (23 - 35 cm). Dorsum color dark brown to light tan. Dorsal scales keeled. Two parallel rows of dark spots down back. Black mark behind eye and on neck. Belly light color with black dots. Anal plate divided. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area:
The ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus),
garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis ssp.) and ribbon snakes (T.
sauritus) all may look similar. The northern redbelly snake (S.
occipitomaculata) has red belly.
Lifestyle: This species is fairly common at BNL and is tolerant of human activity. Inhabits various environments from woodlands and swamps to lots and fields. Mates spring and fall. It is a live-bearing species. Young have yellow ring around neck, 3-4.5". Brood size 3-30.
Eastern Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis sauritus
Description: 18 ½ - 40" (47 - 101 cm). Ground color is dark olive, brown or black. Slender, narrow body with three tan to bluish stripes; one down center of back, and one each down side on 3rd and 4th scales rows. Dorsal scales keeled. Dorsal head dark, ventral head (chin) white. Stripe down margin of belly scales. Anal plate single. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area:
The eastern garter snake (T. sirtalis) is bulkier and has side
stripes on 2nd and 3rd scale rows.
Lifestyle: This species is fairly common at BNL but uncommon through most of L.I. Often found on the margins of wetland areas both forested and open. Live bearing, mates in Spring, gives birth to live young in August and late summer. Brood size 3-25. Young are born at 7-9".
Eastern Garter Snake - Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Description: 18 - 25 ½" (45 - 65 cm). Ground color olive to brown to black. Three stripes; one down back, one down each side along 2nd and 3rd scale rows. Belly green to yellow with two rows of subtle black dots. Keeled scales Checkerboard pattern may be present on dorsal side. Anal plate single. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area:
The eastern ribbon snakes (T. sauritus)
and brown snake (Storeria dekayi).
Lifestyle: Surprisingly, this species is fairly uncommon at BNL. Capable of releasing an unpleasant musk scent. It can be found in almost any habitat from forests to fields to parks to lots. Live bearing species which mates March to May (sometimes as late as October) and gives birth May through September. Brood size 3-80. Young 5-9".
Northern Ringneck Snake - Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
Description: 9 13/16 - 15 ¾" (25 - 40 cm). Slate gray to black dorsum with smooth scales. Golden ring behind head. Belly is bright yellow to red with some black spots possible. Anal plate divided. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area:
The northern redbelly (Storeria
occipitomaculata) has 3 spots around neck.
Lifestyle: This species is not commonly seen, but is fairly common at BNL. This may be due to it’s small size and secretive lifestyle. This species can tolerate human pressure and can be found in and under human debris. Also found in pine and deciduous forests, gardens and meadows. Breeds May to July and fall. 5-10 1" yellow/white eggs laid June and July in debris (sometimes in communal nest sites). Young hatch August and September at 4-6". Young are darker than adults.
Northern Black Racer - Coluber constrictor constrictor
Description: 36 - 67" (90 - 170 cm). Completely black except for a white chin and throat. Scales are smooth. Juveniles have mid-dorsal row of gray spots. Anal plate divided. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image. Photo courtesy of Chris Camacho.
Similar species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: This species is fairly common at BNL. It prefers lightly forested pine and deciduous forests, but is usually found on borders (sometimes rocky) where there is open land and sunlight. Mates April to May. Lays 7-30 leather granular eggs at 1-2" in June to August in dirt or vegetation. This is the largest and fastest of the snakes in our area. Young hatch late August to late September 8-13" with distinct patterning of brown to red splotches on gray/blue ground-color down center of back. Dark spots on sides and belly, yet tail is un-patterned.
Northern Water Snake - Nerodia sipedon sipedon
Description: 24 - 44" (61 - 110 cm). Reddish brown to grayish brown to black. Keeled dorsal scales. Heavily patterned with darker band patterns from neck to anus, although many local specimens are all black. Belly is cream colored, but can also have brilliant mottling and/or crescent shaped spots along periphery of belly scales. Anal plate divided. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: This snake is uncommon at BNL but does occur in areas associated with the Peconic River. The species tolerates a wide variety of aquatic habitats and can handle some human activity. Mates April to June gives live birth in September and October. Heavy black banding along otherwise light gray dorsum. Born at 6 - 8". Brood size 15-50. This species is active both in during the day and night.
Redbelly Snake - Storeria occipitomaculata
Description: 8-15" (20.3 - 35 cm). Small black/brown snake with bright red belly and neck spots (3). Anal plate is divided. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar
species in our area: The ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) has
complete ring around neck; brown snake (S. Dekayi) does not have red
belly.
Lifestyle: This species is very rare at BNL and there are only scattered reports of its presence elsewhere L.I. Until 2003, the last report of this species in the Central Pine Barrens occurred over 60 years ago. It prefers moist, swampy habitats under debris. This species mates in spring and fall. 5-9 live young emerge during late summer at 3-4". Young look like adults but are darker. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Tim Green or Jeremy Feinberg.
Eastern Worm Snake - Carphophis amoenus amoenus
Description: 7 ½ - 11" (19 - 28 cm). Looks like an earthworm. Flattened head and very small eyes. Belly is pink and translucent. Smooth scales. Anal plate divided. Click on thumbnail to enlarge image.
Similar
species in our area: NONE
Lifestyle: This species is very rare at BNL and rarely encountered throughout L.I. This may be due to the fact that this species only occurs in small isolated populations or it may simple be a result of its fossorial lifestyle and small, well camouflaged body. It is listed as a "Species of Special Concern" by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The name of this species comes from their similarity to worms in both design and habit. They live in moist-but-well-drained soils in our Pine Barren region. Mates in late spring and fall. Deposit 4-5 thin shelled eggs under 1" in June and July. Hatching occurs in August and September. Young are darker than adults and are about 3-4" at hatching. ANY SIGHTINGS OF THIS SPECIES ON LONG ISLAND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO Tim Green or Jeremy Feinberg.
Eastern Milk Snake - Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Description: 23 5/8 - 35 ½" (60 - 90 cm). Vivid color patterns on dorsum blotched with brown to tan to red bands usually in three rows; mid-dorsal row much larger than lateral rows. Distinct "Y" or "V" shaped marking on top of head. Scales are smooth. Anal plate single. Photo courtesy of Jim Harding.
Similar
species in our area: Young northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon)
may look similar. This species has crescents on belly, keeled scales
and double anal plate.
Lifestyle: This snake can be found in places throughout our area, but has only been documented a few times at BNL. Found in a wide range of places from lightly wooded areas to fields to lots and parks. They are somewhat tolerant of human pressure. The "milk" part of their name comes from the myth that these snakes had the ability to milk cows. This likely originated as a result of their propensity to inhabit barns. Breeds May to June. Lays 3-20 elliptical eggs in rotting vegetation in June and July. Eggs hatch in August and September and young have bright red markings and are 5-10".
For questions or comments please contact: Jeremy Feinberg or Tim Green.