The dotted collar snake [1] ( lat. Diadophis punctatus ) is a species of snake from the family of the same that lives in North America.
| Point Collar Snake | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| Latin name | ||||||||||||||||
| Diadophis punctatus Linnaeus , 1766 |
The total length varies from 25 to 38 cm, the subspecies D. punctatus regalis has a length of 38 to 46 cm. Females are larger than males. The head is small. The body is elegant, slender. Color varies from light gray to black, and there is almost always a bright yellow or orange band behind the head. The belly is orange and the tail is red below. In an excited state, the snake picks up a tail curled into a ring, showing a bright color.
It lives in humid areas. Leads a secretive, nocturnal lifestyle. It feeds on salamanders, lizards and frogs, as well as earthworms and snakes of other species. For protection uses its resemblance to coral aspids .
Oviparous snake. The female lays 3 to 10 elongated white eggs. Puberty occurs at the age of three years.
Life expectancy can be an average of 10 years, a maximum of 15 years, in captivity, with good content, snakes tend to live longer than in the wild.
Snakes are valued by animal dealers because of their attractive coloration; they also play an important role in research and education. Since they pose no real threat to people, they are ideal for working with younger children in school. Snakes also help control the pest population.
Notes
- ↑ Ananyeva N. B. , Borkin L. Ya. , Darevsky I.S. , Orlov N.L. Amphibians and reptiles. Latin, Russian, English, German, French. / edited by Acad. V. E. Sokolova . - M .: Rus. Yaz., 1988 .-- S. 293. - 10,500 copies. - ISBN 5-200-00232-X .
Literature
- Conant, R., J. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles & amphibians of eastern and central North America, 3rd ed., Expanded. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
- Dundee, H., M. Miller III. 1968. Aggregative behavior and habitat conditioning by the prairie ringneck snake, Diadophis punctatus arnyi . Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany, 15 (2): 41-58.
- Elmberg, J. 1980. Herpetological observations 77-78 [in Vernon county, Wisconsin]. Fältbiologerna Umea.