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Regina septemvittata

(Say, 1825)

Queensnake

G5Secure Found in 15 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102448
Element CodeARADB27040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusRegina
Synonyms
Natrix septemvittata
Other Common Names
Couleuvre royale (FR) Queen Snake (EN)
Concept Reference
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.
Taxonomic Comments
Using a multi-locus nuclear dataset, McVay and Carstens (2013) corroborated Alfaro and Arnold (2001) and Lawson (1985) in finding that Regina is polyphyletic, removing R. rigida and R. alleni to Liodytes. Furthermore, R. grahamii and R. septemvittata do not form a strongly supported monophyletic group. Pyron et al. (2013) found R. grahamii and R. septemvittata related to Tropidoclonion. Figueroa et al. (2016) found grahamii as sister to Tropidoclonion and septemvittata nested within Nerodia. Crother (2017) await further study before making any additional changes.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-02-02
Change Date1996-10-30
Edition Date2006-09-04
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
The range extends from the southern Great Lakes region (southeastern Wisconsin, Michigan, southern Ontario, and western New York) to the Gulf Coast of the Florida panhandle, and east to southeastern Pennsylvania, western New Jersey, and northern Delmarva Peninsula, and west disjunctly to Missouri (extirpated, Johnson 2000) and Arkansas (Barbour 1971, Mount 1975, Mitchell 1994, Palmer and Braswell 1995, Harding 1997, Phillips et al. 1999, Hulse et al. 2001, Ernst 2002, White and White 2002, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Gibbons and Dorcas 2004, Trauth et al. 2004).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represetned by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations) (see county distribution map in Gibbons and Dorcas 2004). Palmer and Braswell (1995) mapped over 100 collection sites in North Carolina alone.
Threat Impact Comments
Threats and declines appear to be greatest in the northern or peripheral parts of the range where habitat alteration has negatively affected crayfish populations (Gibbons and Dorcas 2004). Ernst and Ernst (2003) stated that water pollution and acid rain have combined to reduce crayfish populations in many parts of the eastern portion of the snake's range, and that this, along with drainage of wetlands, has eliminated the queen snake from many areas where it was once common. In Arkansas, eutrophication due to livestock or poultry waste runoff into streams is a possible threat, as is "overuse of water resources by human recreational activities" (Trauth et al. 2004). In the Great Lakes region, siltation from urban or agricultural runoff may reduce or eliminate crayfish populations (Harding 1997). Threats in Illinois include pollution that reduces crayfish populations and siltation of rocky stream bottoms (Phillips et al. 1999). Anecdotal evidence suggests that local populations in the northeastern United States are being reduced in numbers or extirpated as a result of adverse effects of stream degradation and pollution on crayfish (Mitchell 1994, Hulse et al. 2001, White and White 2002). Other potential threats include stream channelization and large impoundments (Mitchell 1994).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This snake occurs only where crayfish are present and fairly abundant, generally in moderate to fast-flowing streams with ample cover, wooded or open conditions, and good exposure to sun. Habitat has been characterized as follows: streams with vegetation along the shoreline, and rocky (north) or sandy (south) bottoms (Gibbons and Dorcas 2004); clean streams or marshes of open areas or woodlands (Ernst and Ernst 2003); small clear creeks with rocky or dandy bottoms, stream impoundments (Alabama; Mount 1975); woodland streams and cypress domes (Florida; Tennant 1997); exposed rocky river shorelines (Arkansas; Trauth et al. 2004); shallow rocky streams in agricultural, urban, and forested areas (Virginia; Mitchell 1994); shallow streams and rivers with plenty of sun, rocks, and overhanging shrubs and small trees (North Carolina; Palmer and Braswell 1995); unpolluted rocky woodland streams (Illinois; Phillips et al. 1999); small rocky streams in wooded areas or open pastures, swampy woods (Kentucky; Barbour 1971); clear, spring-fed streams with moderate to fast currents and rocky bottoms, in lowland hardwood forests and shrub-carr communities (Wisconsin; Vogt 1981). In some areas the habitat may include slow-moving streams, ditches, canals, freshwater marshes, or the edges of ponds or lakes (Mitchell 1994, Harding 1997, Hulse et al. 2001, Gibbons and Dorcas 2004), but this species generally is uncommon or absent from these habitats (Palmer and Braswell 1995, Minton 2001). This snake basks on branches overhanging the water. Sometimes it travels on land away from water. Refuges include burrows, rocks, logs, and other cover.

Reproduction

Gives birth to 5-31 young, July-early September (Behler and King 1979, Ashton and Ashton 1981). Males sexually mature in 2 years, females in 3 years (Vogt 1981).
Palustrine Habitats
SCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
IllinoisS4Yes
TennesseeS5Yes
New YorkS1Yes
MarylandS5Yes
North CarolinaS4Yes
GeorgiaS5Yes
WisconsinS1Yes
District of ColumbiaS1Yes
DelawareS1Yes
New JerseyS1Yes
VirginiaS5Yes
FloridaS3Yes
ArkansasS1Yes
AlabamaS5Yes
MichiganS2Yes
MississippiS2Yes
IndianaS4Yes
West VirginiaS4Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
OhioS3Yes
PennsylvaniaS3Yes
South CarolinaS4Yes
CanadaN2
ProvinceRankNative
OntarioS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development——High (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areas——High (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areas——High (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture——High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops——High (continuing)
9 - Pollution——High (continuing)
9.1 - Domestic & urban waste water——High (continuing)
9.2 - Industrial & military effluents——High (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (15)
Arkansas (2)
AreaForestAcres
East ForkOzark-St. Francis National Forest13,037
Indian CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,855
North Carolina (7)
AreaForestAcres
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Harper CreekPisgah National Forest7,325
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
Lost CovePisgah National Forest5,944
Wilson CreekPisgah National Forest4,863
Yellowhammer Branch (add.)Nantahala National Forest1,255
South Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big MountainSumter National Forest2,337
Virginia (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Broad RunJefferson National Forest10,971
Brush MountainJefferson National Forest6,002
Mountain Lake Addition AJefferson National Forest1,469
Price MountainJefferson National Forest9,119
References (29)
  1. Alfaro, M. E., and S. J. Arnold. 2001. Molecular systematics and evolution of Regina and the thamnophiine snakes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 21:408-423.
  2. Ashton, R. E., Jr., and P. S. Ashton. 1981. Handbook of reptiles and amphibians of Florida. Part One: The Snakes. Windward Publishing Company, Miami, Florida. 176 pp.
  3. Barbour, R. W. 1971. Amphibians and reptiles of Kentucky. Univ. Press of Kentucky, Lexington. x + 334 pp.
  4. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  5. Branson, B. A. and E. C. Baker. 1974. An ecological study ofthe queen snake, REGINA SEPTEMVITTATA (Say) in Kentucky. Tulane Stud. Zool. and Bot. 18(4):153-171.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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
  9. 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.
  10. 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]
  11. Ernst, C. H. 2002. Regina septemvittata. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 757:1-5.
  12. Ernst, C. H., and E. M. Ernst. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Books, Washington, D.C.
  13. Ernst, C. H., J. W. Gibbons, and M. E. Dorcas. 2002. Regina. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 756:1-4.
  14. Figueroa, A., A. D. McKelvy, L. L. Grismer, C. D. Bell, and S. P. Lailvaux. 2016. A species level phylogeny of extant snakes with description of a new colubrid subfamily and genus. PLoS ONE 11(9):e0161070.
  15. Fitch, H. S. 1970. Reproductive cycles of lizards and snakes. Univ. Kansas Museum Natural History Miscellaneous Publication 52:1-247.
  16. Gibbons, J. W., and M. E. Dorcas. 2004. North American watersnakes: a natural history. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. xxvi + 439 pp.
  17. Green, N. B., and T. K. Pauley. 1987. Amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. xi + 241 pp.
  18. Harding, J. H. 1997. Amphibians and reptiles of the Great Lakes region. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. xvi + 378 pp.
  19. Hulse, A. C., C. J. McCoy, and E. Censky. 2001. Amphibians and reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca. 419 pp.
  20. Johnson, T. R. 2000. The amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. Second edition. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City. 400 pp.
  21. Lawson, R. 1985. Molecular studies of thamnophiine snakes. Ph.D. dissertation, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge.
  22. McVay, J. D., and B. Carstens. 2013. Testing monophyly without well-supported gene trees: evidence from multi-locus nuclear data conflicts with existing taxonomy in the snake tribe Thamnophiini. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 68:425-431.
  23. Minton, S. A., Jr. 1972. Amphibians and reptiles of Indiana. Indiana Academy Science Monographs 3. v + 346 pp.
  24. Minton, S. A., Jr. 2001. Amphibians & reptiles of Indiana. Revised second edition. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis. xiv + 404 pp.
  25. Mount, R. H. 1975. The reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. vii + 347 pp.
  26. Phillips, C. A., R. A. Brandon, and E. O. Moll. 1999. Field guide to amphibians and reptiles of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey Manual 8. xv + 282 pp.
  27. 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.
  28. Vogt, R. C. 1981c. Natural history of amphibians and reptiles of Wisconsin. Milwaukee Public Museum. 205 pp.
  29. White, J. F., Jr., and A. W. White. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Delmarva. Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, Maryland. xvi + 248 pp.