Diadophis punctatus

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Ring-necked Snake

G5Secure Found in 229 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
PSESA Status
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100405
Element CodeARADB10010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusDiadophis
USESAPS
Other Common Names
Couleuvre à collier (FR) ring-necked snake (EN) Ringneck Snake (EN)
Concept Reference
Pyron, R. A., F. T. Burbrink, and J. J. Wiens. 2013. A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 29:131.
Taxonomic Comments
Numerous data suggest that more than one lineage exists (Blanchard 1942, Gehlbach 1974, Pinou et al. 1995, Feldman and Spicer 2006). Using mitochondrial data sampled from specimens across their range, Fontanella et al. (2008) found at least 14 lineages that do not follow the geographic range of the subspecies, and may be independently evolving taxa. While D. punctatus may be divided into several species in the near future, Crother (2017) refrain from making any changes at present. Evidence to synonymize the various races into a single species has been poorly presented, and the arrangement in Crother (2017) follows the traditional subspecies groupings.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-02-02
Change Date1996-10-29
Edition Date2005-09-06
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Range Extent Comments
The range extends from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast of North America (Conant and Collins 1991, Stebbins 2003). The northern limit of the more or less continuous portion of the range reaches Nova Scotia, southern Quebec, southern Ontario, Minnesota, southeastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, southeastern Colorado, and Arizona. The southern limit extends to San Luis Potosi (Mexico), the Gulf Coast of the United States, and southern Florida. The species also occurs disjunctly in western North America in eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, and it ranges from southern Washington through western Oregon and throughout much of California (except the Central Valley and deserts) into northwestern Baja California, including Islas Todos Santos and San Martin along the Pacific Coast (Grismer 2002). This species has been introduced on Grand Cayman Island (probably via ornamental plants from southern Florida), but it is unknown whether or not the species is established there (Schwartz and Henderson 1991).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by thousands of occurrences or subpopulations.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats have been identified. Many local populations have been lost or reduced as a result of habitat destruction (Ernst and Ernst 2003), but these appear to amount to a small minority of the total distribution.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This snake occurs in forests, woodlands, grassland, chaparral, and riparian corridors in arid regions (Stebbins 2003). Habitats are moist, at least seasonally. One or multiple individuals often are found near abandoned buildings and in junk piles in wooded areas. During daylight hours, this snake generally hides underground, in or under logs, or under rocks, stumps or other surface cover. Eggs are laid (often communally) underground or under logs or rocks.

Ecology

Population density was estimated to be 719-1849/ha in Kansas study. Distances between recaptures averaged 80 m (range 0-1700 m) in same study; home range had maximum dimension of about 140 m (Fitch 1975).

Reproduction

Lays clutch of 1-18 eggs, usually in June or July. Eggs hatch in up to about 8 weeks. Sexually mature in 2-3 years. May possibly lay two clutches in south. Eggs are laid from late May through August in Florida. Communal nesting common.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest - ConiferForest - MixedWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralSavannaGrassland/herbaceousDesertCropland/hedgerow
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
UtahS3Yes
KansasS5Yes
ArizonaS4Yes
District of ColumbiaS4Yes
NebraskaS5Yes
TennesseeS5Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
ConnecticutS5Yes
NevadaS3Yes
WashingtonS3Yes
TexasS5Yes
ColoradoS2Yes
VermontS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
AlabamaS5Yes
New JerseyS5Yes
IllinoisSNRYes
New HampshireS5Yes
MarylandS5Yes
North CarolinaS5Yes
ArkansasS5Yes
South CarolinaS5Yes
IdahoS3Yes
MinnesotaS4Yes
MassachusettsS5Yes
LouisianaS5Yes
DelawareS5Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
MichiganS5Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
IowaS5Yes
GeorgiaS5Yes
West VirginiaSNRYes
FloridaS5Yes
MississippiS5Yes
New MexicoS4Yes
IndianaS4Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
South DakotaS3Yes
OregonS4Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
MissouriS5Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
MaineS5Yes
New YorkS5Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS4Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
QuebecS4Yes
New BrunswickS4Yes
Roadless Areas (229)
Alabama (2)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainTalladega National Forest4,986
Oakey MountainTalladega National Forest6,129
Arizona (16)
AreaForestAcres
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Black CanyonPrescott National Forest10,683
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
HellsgateTonto National Forest6,171
Horse MesaTonto National Forest9,146
Lower RinconCoronado National Forest3,278
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Rincon RoadlessCoronado National Forest2,991
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
Arkansas (8)
AreaForestAcres
Blue MountainOuachita National Forest9,755
Brush HeapOuachita National Forest4,205
Devils CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,877
Dismal CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest9,160
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
Gee CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,957
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Richland CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest571
California (73)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo SecoAngeles National Forest4,703
Bear MountainLos Padres National Forest913
Big RocksLos Padres National Forest11,866
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Black MountainLos Padres National Forest16,818
Black Mtn.Sequoia National Forest15,102
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
CamuesaLos Padres National Forest8,209
Chalk PeakLos Padres National Forest7,472
Circle MountainSan Bernardino National Forest6,375
ColdwaterCleveland National Forest8,402
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
CrapoKlamath National Forest1,487
Crystal CreekSan Bernardino National Forest6,783
Cucamonga AAngeles National Forest1,249
Cucamonga CSan Bernardino National Forest4,106
Deep CreekSan Bernardino National Forest23,869
Dennison PeakSequoia National Forest6,293
Devil GulchSierra National Forest30,490
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
East GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest27,894
Fox MountainLos Padres National Forest52,072
Greenhorn CreekSequoia National Forest28,226
JuncalLos Padres National Forest12,289
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
KellySix Rivers National Forest5,195
KelseyKlamath National Forest3,237
La BreaLos Padres National Forest14,031
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Little PineLos Padres National Forest1,315
Magic MountainAngeles National Forest15,542
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Mill CreekSequoia National Forest27,643
Mill PeakSan Bernardino National Forest7,884
Monkey CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,017
MonoLos Padres National Forest28,141
MosesSequoia National Forest22,077
No NameCleveland National Forest4,897
NordhoffLos Padres National Forest12,031
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
Pilot CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,192
Pleasant ViewAngeles National Forest26,395
PortugueseKlamath National Forest18,915
Red MountainAngeles National Forest8,034
San DimasAngeles National Forest7,160
Santa CruzLos Padres National Forest21,182
Sheep MountainAngeles National Forest21,098
Ship MountainSix Rivers National Forest11,936
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
Skeleton GladeMendocino National Forest9,237
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
Strawberry PeakAngeles National Forest7,245
SugarloafSan Bernardino National Forest8,206
Tepusquet PeakLos Padres National Forest5,821
TequepisLos Padres National Forest9,080
Thomes CreekMendocino National Forest16,616
TrabucoCleveland National Forest23,341
UnderwoodSix Rivers National Forest6,591
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
WestforkAngeles National Forest4,407
White LedgeLos Padres National Forest18,632
WildhorseCleveland National Forest1,483
Florida (2)
AreaForestAcres
Gum BayApalachicola National Forest11,645
Impassable BayOsceola National Forest2,789
Georgia (7)
AreaForestAcres
Big MountainChattahoochee National Forest1,974
Helton CreekChattahoochee National Forest2,348
Indian Grave GapChattahoochee National Forest1,020
Kelly RidgeChattahoochee National Forest8,325
Lance CreekChattahoochee National Forest9,025
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Rocky MountainChattahoochee National Forest4,269
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
Louisiana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Saline Bayou W & S River CorridorKisatchie National Forest5,355
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
QuinnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest62,459
New Hampshire (5)
AreaForestAcres
Great Gulf Ext.White Mountain National Forest15,110
Kinsman MountainWhite Mountain National Forest8,999
Mt. Wolf - Gordon PondWhite Mountain National Forest11,846
PemigewassetWhite Mountain National Forest32,255
Sandwich RangeWhite Mountain National Forest16,797
New Mexico (8)
AreaForestAcres
Candian RiverCibola National Forest7,149
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Last Chance CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
Little Dog And Pup CanyonsLincoln National Forest25,412
Peloncillo (NM)Coronado National Forest43,339
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
North Carolina (22)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainPisgah National Forest11,085
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Boteler PeakNantahala National Forest4,205
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Dobson KnobPisgah National Forest6,111
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
Overflow CreekNantahala National Forest3,379
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
Slide HollowPisgah National Forest193
SnowbirdNantahala National Forest8,489
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Tusquitee BaldNantahala National Forest13,670
Wesser BaldNantahala National Forest4,061
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
Woods MountainPisgah National Forest9,602
Yellowhammer Branch (add.)Nantahala National Forest1,255
Oregon (6)
AreaForestAcres
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
French Pete (a)Willamette National Forest1,668
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
Shasta CostaSiskiyou National Forests14,420
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Pennsylvania (5)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
Clarion RiverAllegheny National Forest3,821
CornplanterAllegheny National Forest2,929
Minister ValleyAllegheny National Forest1,417
Tracy RidgeAllegheny National Forest9,034
South Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Big MountainSumter National Forest2,337
Ellicott Rock 2Sumter National Forest517
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Tennessee (11)
AreaForestAcres
Bald MountainCherokee National Forest11,743
Bald River Gorge AdditionCherokee National Forest1,728
Beaver Dam CreekCherokee National Forest5,070
Brushy RidgeCherokee National Forest7,469
Flint Mill GapCherokee National Forest9,494
Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Add.Cherokee National Forest1,396
Little Frog Addition NWCherokee National Forest628
Sampson Mountain AdditionCherokee National Forest3,064
Slide HollowCherokee National Forest4,057
Sycamore CreekCherokee National Forest6,984
Upper Bald RiverCherokee National Forest9,202
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (8)
AreaForestAcres
Beehive PeakFishlake National Forest59,137
Bull ValleyDixie National Forest10,911
Bullion - DelanoFishlake National Forest14,917
CopleysFishlake National Forest11,683
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
PavantFishlake National Forest42,560
Stansbury MountainsWasatch-Cache National Forest39,696
Tushar MountainFishlake National Forest39,992
Virginia (33)
AreaForestAcres
Adams PeakGeorge Washington National Forest7,135
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Beards MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,505
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Brush Mountain EastJefferson National Forest4,916
Gum RunGeorge Washington National Forest12,620
Horse HeavenJefferson National Forest4,748
JerkemtightGeorge Washington National Forest16,687
Kelley MountainGeorge Washington National Forest7,590
Kimberling Creek Addition AJefferson National Forest89
Laurel ForkGeorge Washington National Forest9,967
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Little Walker MountainJefferson National Forest9,818
Little Wilson Creek Addition AJefferson National Forest78
Mill MountainGeorge Washington National Forest10,840
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Mt. PleasantGeorge Washington National Forest8,933
New London Bridge BranchJefferson National Forest844
North MountainJefferson National Forest8,377
Northern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest9,444
Oak KnobGeorge Washington National Forest10,882
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
Peters Mountain Addition BJefferson National Forest2,909
Raccoon BranchJefferson National Forest4,388
Ramseys Draft AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest12,781
Saint Marys AdditionGeorge Washington National Forest1,454
Seng MountainJefferson National Forest6,428
SkidmoreGeorge Washington National Forest5,641
Southern MassanuttenGeorge Washington National Forest11,985
The PriestGeorge Washington National Forest5,737
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (15)
AreaForestAcres
Canaan LoopMonongahela National Forest7,867
Cheat MountainMonongahela National Forest8,191
Cranberry AdditionMonongahela National Forest11,123
Cranberry Glades Botanical AreaMonongahela National Forest785
Dolly Sods Roaring PlainMonongahela National Forest13,392
Dry River (WV)George Washington National Forest7,331
East Fork Of GreenbrierMonongahela National Forest7,167
Falls Of Hills CreekMonongahela National Forest6,925
Glady ForkMonongahela National Forest3,239
Little MountainMonongahela National Forest8,172
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
North Mountain HopevilleMonongahela National Forest6,525
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
Tea Creek MountainMonongahela National Forest8,295
References (25)
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  2. Bosworth, W. R., J. M. Meik, K. Setser, and C. Steele. 2004. The distribution of the ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) in Utah. Herpetological Review 35:238-239.
  3. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  4. Collins, J. T. 1991. Viewpoint: a new taxonomic arrangement for some North American amphibians and reptiles. SSAR Herpetol. Review 22:42-43.
  5. Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  7. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  8. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  9. Feldman, C. R., and G. S. Spicer. 2006. Comparative phylogeography of woodland reptiles in California: repeated patterns of cladogenesis and population expansion. Molecular Ecology 15:2201-2222.
  10. Fitch, H. S. 1970. Reproductive cycles of lizards and snakes. Univ. Kansas Museum Natural History Miscellaneous Publication 52:1-247.
  11. Fitch, H. S. 1975. A demographic study of the ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) in Kansas. Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Pub. 62:1-53.
  12. Fitch, H. S. 1982. Resources of a snake community in prairie-woodland habitat of northeastern Kansas. Pages 83-97 in N. J. Scott, Jr. (editor). Herpetological Communities. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Res. Rep. 13.
  13. Fontanella, F. M., C. R. Feldman, M. E. Siddall, and F. T. Burbrink. 2008. Phylogeography of <i>Diadophis punctatus</i>: extensive lineage diversity and repeated patterns of historical demography in a trans-continental snake. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46(3):1049-1070.
  14. Gehlbach, F. R. 1974. Evolutionary relations of southwestern ringneck snakes (<i>Diadophis punctatus</i>). Herpetologica (1974):140-148.
  15. Green, N. B., and T. K. Pauley. 1987. Amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. xi + 241 pp.
  16. Hammerson, G. A. 1982b. Amphibians and reptiles in Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver. vii + 131 pp.
  17. Minton, S. A., Jr. 1972. Amphibians and reptiles of Indiana. Indiana Academy Science Monographs 3. v + 346 pp.
  18. Pinou, T., C. A. Hass, and L. R. Maxson. 1995. Geographic variation of serum albumin in the monotypic snake genus <i>Diadophis </i>(Colubridae: Xenodontinae). Journal of Herpetology 29:105-110.
  19. Pyron, R. A., F. T. Burbrink, and J. J. Wiens. 2013. A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 29:131.
  20. Schwartz, A., and R. W. Henderson. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, Florida. xvi + 720 pp.
  21. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  22. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  23. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2022. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for Rim Rock Crowned Snake and Key Ring-Necked Snake and Designation of Critical Habitat. Proposed rule. Federal Register 87(198):62614-62674.
  24. Vogt, R. C. 1981c. Natural history of amphibians and reptiles of Wisconsin. Milwaukee Public Museum. 205 pp.
  25. Washington Herp Atlas. 2009 (map products updated March 2017). A cooperative effort of Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Forest Service. 250 pp.