HARMLESSLY VENOMOUS. Uses its venom to subdue prey, but is not dangerous to humans because a) they have an ineffective venom delivery mechanism, b) their mouths too small to gain purchase, and/or c) their venom is not adapted for causing physiological damage to mammals.
The Ring-necked Snake is characterized by smooth scales, a divided anal scale, and a bright yellow or orange-yellow ring around the neck. The head, body, and tail are shiny gray-black or blue-black except for the conspicuous neck ring. The belly is yellow, with numerous scattered black dots. The underside of the tail is bright red. Adult males have longer tails than females and have keels or ridges on the scale rows above the cloaca. Females grow larger than males.
Adults normally grow 25.4- 38.0 cm (10-15 inches) in total length. The largest specimen from Kansas is a female (KU 216516) from Shawnee County with a total length of 45.6 cm (177⁄8 inches) collected by Mark Ellis on 3 July 1990. The maximum length throughout the range is 70.3 cm (2711⁄16 inches) (Powell et al., 2016). The maximum weight for a Kansas specimen is 15.2 grams (slightly over ½ ounce).
Known from the eastern third of the state. It makes it into the western third along the Cimarron, Arkansas, and Smoky Hill River drainages.
Fitch (1975) studied this snake in northeastern Kansas, and much of the information on this species in Kansas is based on his observations. This species inhabits the rocky hillsides of open woodlands. It is active from March to November, temperatures permitting, but becomes scarce during July and August, probably due to high temperatures and consequent lack of moist surface soil. Ring-necked Snakes apparently prowl at night and spend the day resting on moist soil beneath large rocks. They rarely bask in the sun, preferring to lie beneath sun-warmed rocks to maintain an optimal body temperature. Large numbers of these snakes will congregate beneath a single rock. Why is not known, but it is suspected that this snake uses smell to follow others of its species to the same rock. Henderson (1970) showed that at optimal temperatures (76-85°F) this species requires water about every third day.
During winter, this snake retreats well below the ground surface to avoid cold temperatures. Fitch (1975, 1982) considered this species to be the most abundant vertebrate on his upland study area in Douglas County and obtained estimates of up to 730 Ring-necked Snakes per acre. In his study of 530 Diadophis punctatus in northeast Kansas, Fitch (2000) found that males are larger and live longer than females. He determined that 12 age classes existed in his samples and his density estimates were 1603 individuals per hectare (648/acre) and amounted to 45.9 of the snake biomass in his study area.
Mating occurs during spring, but courtship is unknown. The number of eggs per clutch varies from one to ten (Fitch, 1985), with an average of four; the eggs are laid in late June or early July, probably deep beneath the ground. The eggs hatch in late August or early September. Males become sexually mature during their second season, whereas females require three seasons to reach reproductive maturity. Seigel and Fitch (1985) discovered that this species increased the number of eggs per clutch during a breeding season when there was ample rain the previous autumn, apparently because earthworms, the main diet of this snake in Kansas, were more available for the females to eat.
Henderson (1970) recorded this species feeding primarily on earthworms and small frogs. Fitch (1975) examined the stomach contents of 182 examples of this snake and found 221 earthworms, two insect larvae and one hatchling lizard. He estimated that this snake consumes three times its body weight in earthworms per year. Ring-necked Snakes appear to rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate prey. Fitch (1975) reported predation on the Ring-necked Snake in Douglas County by Copperheads, Timber Rattlesnakes, Racers, Milk Snakes, Bullfrogs, and three species of raptorial birds.
When molested or handled, a Ring-necked Snake may tightly coil and elevate its tail, exposing the bright red undersurface. Smith (1976) demonstrated that large adult males exhibited tail-coiling behavior less often than smaller individuals and females. He felt this behavior provided a defense mechanism for slower-moving juveniles and gravid females. This behavior is defensive and, when accompanied by a cloaca! discharge, may discourage predators, particularly birds.
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Collins, Joseph T. 1992. Results of the fourth Kansas herp count held during April-May 1992. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (89):10-.
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Miller, Larry L. 1996. Third graders conduct amphibian and reptile field study. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (106):15.
Miller, Larry L. 1996. Many amphibian and reptile species identified during KHS 1996 fall field trip to Wabaunsee County. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (106):2-3.
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Collins, Joseph T. 1997. A report on the KHS fall field trip to the Marais des Cygnes wildlife refuges. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (110):2-3.
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Simmons, John E. 1998. A technique to remove reptiles from glue boards. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (114):18.
Collins, Joseph T. 1998. Results of the KHS silver anniversary fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (114):6-.
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Taggart, Travis W. 1999. Cherokee County fall 1999 herp count. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (117):6.
Fitch, Henry S. 2000. Population structure and biomass of some common snakes in central North America. Scientific Papers of the Natural History Museum, University of Kansas (17):1-7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2000. KHS spring field trip sets record for attendance. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):5-5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2000. Biogeographic analysis of the reptiles (Squamata) in Ellis County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (121):7-16.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2000. Results of the eleventh and twelfth annual KHS herpetofaunal counts for 1999-2000, held 1 April-31 May. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (122):11-16.
Taggart, Travis W. 2000. Results of the KHS 2000 fall field trip. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (122):6-8.
Guarisco, Hank. 2001. Ode to an ophidion autumn. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (123):19.
Taggart, Travis W. 2001. The KHS 2001 spring field trip: A rainy rendezvous. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (124):12-14.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2001. Results of the thirteenth annual KHS herp counts for 2001, held 1 April-30 June. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):13-16.
Kingsbury, Bruce and Joanna Gibson. 2002. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest. Publication of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Address not given. 152 pp.
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Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of
America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory
and Monitoring Network. Interim Report. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 6 pp.
Ellis, Mark R. 2002. Fall 2002 KHS field trip to Washington County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):4-5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2002. Results of the KHS 2002 fall field Trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):11-13.
Miller, Larry L. 2002. Shawnee County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):15.
Miller, Larry L. 2002. Sumner County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):15.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2002. Natural history of the Night Snake, Hypsiglena torquata, in Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):16-20.
Freeman, Craig C. 2003. A natural areas inventory of the Ft. Leavenworth Military Reservation, Leavenworth County, Kansas. II. Open-file Report No. 117. Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas. 199 pp.
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and Monitoring Network. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 59 pp.
Suleiman, G. 2003. Fort Riley herpetofaunal count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (5):11-12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. KHS conducts first systematic road survey. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):11-12.
Volkmann, Allan W. 2003. Predation by a Ringneck Snake. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):12.
Platt, Dwight R. 2003. Lizards and snakes (Order Squamata) of Harvey County, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):13-20.
Fitch, Henry S. 2003. Reproduction in snakes of the Fitch Natural History Reservation in northeastern Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):21-24.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Results of the 2003 KHS spring field trip to Wilson County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):2-5.
Miller, Larry L. 2003. Sumner County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):10.
Miller, Larry L. and Suzanne L. Miller. 2003. Wakarusa herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):10.
Volkmann, Al. 2003. Cowley County herp count 1. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):7.
Lokke, John L. and Jill Lokke. 2003. Cowley County herp count 2. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.
Suleiman, Gibran. 2003. Fort Riley herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):9.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Results of the KHS 2003 fall field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (8):14-15.
Fitch, Henry S., Scott Sharp, and Kylee Sharp. 2003. Snakes of the University of Kansas biotic succession area. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (8):20-21.
Fitch, Henry S. 2004. The effect of female size on number of eggs or young in snakes. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (9):11-12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Kansas Herpetological Society 2004 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (9):2.
McNearney, Ross. 2004. Life history. Diadophis punctatus. Albino. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (10):11.
Fitch, Henry S. 2004. Food surplus and body size in local populations of snakes. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (10):14-16.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Results of the 2004 KHS spring field trip to Logan County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (10):2-7.
Daniel, James K. 2004. Cherokee County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):10.
Volkmann, Al. 2004. Cowley County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):10.
Washburne, M. 2004. Ellsworth County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):10.
Collins, Joseph T. 2004. Marais des Cygnes herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):11.
Miller, Larry L. 2004. Sumner County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):11-12.
Ellis, Mark R. and Kathy Ellis. 2004. Wakarusa herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Results of the KHS 2004 fall feld trip . Journal of Kansas Herpetology (12):15-16.
Fitch, Henry S. 2004. Observations on Ringneck Snakes (Diadophis punctatus). Journal of Kansas Herpetology (12):19.
Willson, John D. and Michael E. Dorcas. 2004. Aspects of the ecology of small fossorial snakes in the western piedmont of North Carolina. Southeastern Naturalist 3(1):1-12.
Taggart, Travis W. and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2005. Geographic distribution: Diadophis punctatus. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (14):11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2005. Results of the KHS 2005 fall field trip [to Crawford County]. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (16):19-21.
Taggart, Travis W. 2006. Distribution and status of Kansas herpetofauna in need of information. State Wildlife Grant T7. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. vii + 106 pp.
Miller, Larry L. 2006. Late fall ringneck snake activity. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (17):6.
Wilgers, Dustin J. and Eva A. Horne. 2006. Effects of different burn regimes on tallgrass prairie herpetofaunal species diversity and community composition in the Flint Hills, Kansas. Journal of Herpetology 40:73-84.
Gray, Brian S. 2006. Artificial hibernation of some temperate North American snakes. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 41(6):101-105.
Dloogatch, Michael A. (Editor). 2006. Herpetology 2006. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 41(6):111-114.
Wilgers, Dustin J., Eva A. Horne, Brett K. Sandercock, and Allan W. Volkmann. 2006. Effects of rangeland management on community dynamics of the herpetofauna of the tallgrass prairie. 62:378-388.
Taggart, Travis W., Joseph T. Collins, and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2007. Estimates of amphibian, reptile, and turtle mortality if Phostoxin is applied to 10,000 acres of prairie dog burrows in Logan County, Kansas. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. 5 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2008. KHS 2008 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (25):2-3.
Collins, Joseph T. 2008. Ringneck Snake revelations. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (26):7-8.
Meshaka, Walter E., Jr. 2008. Seasonal activity, reproduction, and growth of the Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus) in Pennsylvania. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 28:17-20.
Fontanella, Frank M., Chris R. Feldman, Mark E. Siddall, and Frank T. Burbrink. 2008. Phylogeography of Diadophis punctatus: Extensive lineage diversity and repeated patterns of historical demography in a transcontinental snake. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46:1049-1070.
Todd, Brian D., John D. Willson, Christopher T. Winne, Raymond D. Semlitsch, and J. Whitfield Gibbons. 2008. Ecology of the Southeastern Crowned Snake, Tantilla coronata. Copeia 2008(2):388-394.
Nolting, Ray. 2008. Snake hunter finds rattlesnake in Neosho. Parsons Sun 1 May 2008:1,8.
Fontanella, Frank M. 2009. Evolution, phylogeography and species boundaries of the Ringneck Snake Diadophis. Dissertation. City University of New York, New York, New York. 211 pp.
Murrow, Daniel G. 2009. KHS 2009 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (29):42769.
Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2010. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of Kansas. Eagle Mountain Publishing., Provo, Utah. 400 pp.
Murrow, Daniel G. 2010. Kansas Herpetological Society spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (33):2-3.
Gray, Brian S. 2010. Distribution of native and exotic earthworms in the eastern United States: Implications for the ecology of vermivorous snakes. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 45(5):73-86.
McMartin, David C. 2011. U. S. Army 2011 Fort Leavenworth Herpetofaunal Survey: 23 April - 09 May 2011. Privately printed, Leavenworth, Kansas. 33 pp.
Busby, William. 2011. Ecology of the Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae)
and Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) in Northeastern Kansas. Open-file Report No. 172. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt, Kansas. 37 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 spring field trip to be held in Chautauqua County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (37):5-7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the KHS Spring Field Trip to Chautauqua County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (38):2-4.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 Summer Field Trip to Scott State Park. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):2.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 Fall Field Trip to Lovewell State Park. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):4-5.
McMartin, D. Chris. 2011. Herp Count: Fort Leavenworth Herpetofaunal Survey for 2011. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):8-9.
Houck, Mike. 2011. Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Survey for 2011. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):9.
Rohweder, Megan R. 2012. Spatial conservation prioritization of Kansas for terrestrial vertebrates. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 151 pp.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2012. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada: Second Edition, Revised and Updated. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 152 pp.
Hamilton, Bryan Tyler, Rachel Hart, and Jack W. Sites Jr. 2012. Feeding ecology of the Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum, Colubridae) in the western United States. Journal of Herpetology 46(4):515-522.
Sinclair, Tom. 2013. A four-day spring snake count across northern Kansas. Collinsorum 2(1/2):9.
Baldwin, Mary Kate. 2013. “Herps in Havensville” Herp Surveys. Collinsorum 2(3/4):10.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Spring Field Trip to Bourbon County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Fall Field Trip to Atchison County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):4.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Spring Field Trip to Schermerhorn Park, Cherokee County. Collinsorum 2(3/4):4.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Fall Field Trip to Butler County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):6.
Johnson, Stephen R. 2013. Half-time herping on one big prairie. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 48(5):65-66.
McMartin, D. Chris. 2014. Fort Leavenworth Heretofaunal Survey for 2013. Collinsorum 3(1):10.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Spring Field Trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Fall Field Trip to Woodson County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):12.
Pauly-Hubbard, Emma C. 2014. Prairie Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus arnyi Captive Care,. Collinsorum 3(2-4):17-18.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Recent scientific and standard English name changes effecting the Kansas herpetofauna. Collinsorum 3(2-4):9-10.
Houck, Mike. 2015. 2015 Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Count final report. Collinsorum 4(1):10-11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Spring Field Trip to the Greenhorn Limestone of Russell County. Collinsorum 4(3):2.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Fall Field Trip Held In Washington County. Collinsorum 4(3):4.
Pittman, Galen L., Henry S. Fitch, and W. Dean Kettle. 2016. Vertebrate animals on the Fitch Natural History Reservation (1948-2002). Kansas Biological Survey Report Number 188, Lawrence. 48 pp.
Powell, Robert, Roger Conant, and Joseph T. Collins. 2016. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. 494 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Spring 2016 KHS field trip to Clark County was a soggy success. Collinsorum 5(2-3):2-3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Results of the KHS Summer field trip to Caney River, Chautauqua County, Kansas. Collinsorum 5(2-3):4-5.
Crother, Brian 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. Eighth edition. Herpetological Circulars (43):1-102.
Mardis, Dexter R. 2017. Results from three Herpetofaunal tallies at Wichita State University’s Youngmeyer Ranch in Northwestern
Elk County. Collinsorum 6(1):8-10.
Taggart, Travis W. 2017. Results of the 2017 KHS Spring Field Trip to Elk County, Kansas. Collinsorum 6(2-3):6-8.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2017. Herp Count: Southeast Ellis County. Collinsorum 6(2-3):9.
Taggart, Travis W. 2017. Herp Count: Clark County State Lake. Collinsorum 6(2-3):9.
Taggart, Travis W. 2017. Herp Count: Northeast Barton County. Collinsorum 6(2-3):9.
Houck, Mike. 2018. Herp Count: Fort Riley Military Installation. Collinsorum 7(1):17.
Leao, Suelem Muniz, Eric R. Pianka, and Nicolás Pelegrin. 2018. Is there evidence for population regulation in amphibians and reptiles? Journal of Herpetology 52(1):28-33.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2019. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada. Third Edition. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 192 pp.
Degano, Maria E. 2019. The influence of landscape on genetic divergence of the Prairie Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus arnyi) in Missouri. Thesis. Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri. 69 pp.
Daniel, Richard E. and Brian S. Edmond. 2020. Atlas of Missouri Amphibians and Reptiles for 2019. Privately printed, Columbia, Missouri. 86 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2020. Revisiting Kansas Herpetological Society field trip and Herp Count data:
Distributional patterns and trend data of Kansas amphibians and reptiles. Collinsorum 9(1):7-16.
Hullinger, Allison, Zackary Cordes, Daren Riedle, and William Stark. 2020. Habitat assessment of the Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)
and the associated squamate community in eastern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 123(1-2):137-150.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Neosho County: KHS-2020-01. Collinsorum 9(3):11.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Cherokee County: KHS-2020-02. Collinsorum 9(3):11-12.
Abbott, Samuel S. 2021. Herp Count: Cowley County: KHS-2020-06. Collinsorum 9(3):12.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2021. Herp Count: Pratt County: KHS-2020-07. Collinsorum 9(3):12.
Schmidt, Curtis J and Avery Schmidt. 2021. Herp Count: KHS-2020-4. Collinsorum 9(3):12.
Mardis, Dexter R. 2021. Herp Count: Sumner County: KHS-2020-08. Collinsorum 9(3):12-13.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Hodgeman County: KHS-2020-09. Collinsorum 9(3):13.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Seward County: KHS-2020-13. Collinsorum 9(3):13.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-19. Collinsorum 9(3):14.
Riedle, J. Daren, Tamera D. Riedle, Zachary Riedle, and Greya Riedle. 2021. Herp Count: Montgomery County: KHS-2020-23. Collinsorum 9(3):14-15.
Taggart, Travis W. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-24. Collinsorum 9(3):14-15.
Taggart, Megan M. and Travis W. Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Seward County: KHS-2020-27. Collinsorum 9(3):15.
Taggart, Travis W., Dan Fogell, and Christopher Visser. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-25. Collinsorum 9(3):15.
Underwood, Tyler L. and Keith Geluso. 2022. Geographic distribution: Diadophis punctatus. USA, Nebraska. Herpetological Review 53(1):73-4.
Ward, Krista J. 2022. Geographic distribution: Diadophis punctatus. USA, Kansas. Herpetological Review 53(2):263.
Wright, Jake. 2024. Herpetofaunal assemblage at a former rock quarry in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Collinsorum 13(1):8-9.