User:Alaina.parrish/new sandbox

= Common Ribbon Snake = From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus) is a common species of garter snake endemic to Eastern North America. It is a nonvenomous species of snake. It averages 16–35 inches (41–89 cm) in length and is a member of the genus Thamnophis. The snake can be renowned for their physical traits of having slim bodies, sleek scales and lateral body stripes. It can be described as having a dark brown coloration with bright yellow spots attributing down the backs of the reptiles. The Common Ribbon Snake is sexually monomorphic, however females are normally thicker than their male counterparts. The snake is non-venomous.

There are four different verified subspecies of the ribbon snake: the eastern ribbon snake, the northern ribbon snake, t he southern ribbon snake (peninsula ribbon snake), and the bluestripe ribbon snake. The eastern ribbon snake can be distinguished from it's brownish back and yellow back stripes and is found in the United States east of the Mississippi. The northern ribbon snake has whitish scales and is found from the Midwestern United States up to Canada. The southern ribbon snake or peninsula ribbon snake is the most black of the ribbon snakes and inhabits the Southeastern United States. The bluestripe ribbon can be recognized by two blue stripes from where the snake gets its name. It is native to the Gulf Coast of the United States and Florida.

The ribbon snake can be found in wet climates such as creek-beds, streams, lakes, wet woodlands and marsh areas. Ribbon snakes are active from April to October and hibernate during the winter months. Maturity is reached around 3 years of age.

Subspecies[edit]
The four recognized subspecies of ribbon snake are:


 * Eastern ribbon snake – T. s. sauritus - brownish back, ranges from New York to Florida, west to the Mississippi River
 * Northern ribbon snake – T. s. septentrionalis - dark brown or black above, ranges from Maine through Ontario and Indiana
 * Southern ribbon snake or Peninsula ribbon snake – T. s. sackeni - tan or brown, ranges from South Carolina south through Florida
 * Bluestripe ribbon snake – T. s. nitae - dark with light blue lateral stripes, Gulf Coast of north-central Florida

Captivity[edit]
Ribbon snakes are known to be common pets due to their docile behavior. A single snake can fit in a 10-gallon terrarium.

Prey and Predators
In order to hunt, ribbon snakes use a few of their senses including auditory and visual perception. Ribbon snakes do not eat warm blooded prey, just like their family of garter snakes do not. Using these traits they are predators to frogs, toads, tadpoles, small fish, spiders, earthworms, and newts. Meanwhile they fall prey to birds and larger amphibians and reptiles.

Reproduction
Once a ribbon snake are 2-3 years old, they reach reproductive maturity. Once ribbon snakes hit this maturity, they are able mate which usually occurs in May. Litters of 3-26 hatchling snakes are hatched about 3 months after the snakes mate.