HARMLESS. The Western Ribbonsnake is characterized by keeled scales, a single anal scale, a stripe on each side of the body situated on the third and fourth scale rows (counting from the belly up), upper lips without dark vertical bars, and a uniform olive-gray, dark green, or black skin color between the stripes. The stripe down the middle of the back is red, orange, or yellow and those on each side of the body are light yellow or cream. The belly is white, cream, or gray with some dark coloration along its edges. Females grow slightly larger than males.
Adults normally attain 51.0- 76.0 mm (20-30 inches) in total length. The largest specimen from Kansas is a female (FHSM 7243) from Edwards County with a total length of 101.3 cm (39½ inches) collected by James Gubanyi and Keith Coleman on 2 June 2002. The maximum length throughout the range is 126.7 cm (497⁄8 inches) (Boundy, 1995; Powell et al., 2016).
Widespread in the eastern third of the state south of the Kansas River and largely confined to riparian corridors west of the Flint Hills.
Border vegetation around permanent bodies of water (swamps, marshes, ponds, rivers, ditches) and along the base of nearby rock outcrops where some individuals hibernate. Climbs onto piles of plants and low bushes.
Burt (1935) reported they are most abundant in extensive marshy areas that are filled with aquatic vegetation, such as reeds and cat-tails. They are often found in the reeds and grasses near shallow, meandering prairie streams as well, especially in the vicinity of those with sandy and gravelly bottoms.
Mozley (1877) first reported this species from Wallace County based on a specimen collected by Snow. This specimen no longer exists. Wilmer W. Tanner collected a specimen two miles east of Wallace (BYU 20742; no date is given). These are the westernmost reported specimens in Kansas, and additional corroborating specimens are desirable.
This slender, nervous snake frequents the edges of swamps, marshes, lakes, streams, and rivers. It is active from March to October and is both diurnal and nocturnal depending upon prevailing temperatures. This species spends the day foraging along water-edge vegetation or basking in the sun on matted reeds and grasses. When frightened, it glides swiftly across water to escape. Gloyd (1928) found this species active and feeding on frogs at night during April in Franklin County. During winter, it retreats to burrows underground to avoid cold temperatures.
Western Ribbonsnakes mate during April and May, but courtship is unknown. Each female gives birth to young anytime from late June to September. The number of young per litter ranges from 4 to 28 (Fitch, 1985), with an average of 12 or 13. Gloyd (1928) collected a female in Franklin County, which gave birth to eight young on 27 July. In Miami County, Gloyd (1932) found a female containing six well-developed young on 31 August. Collins (1974) obtained a gravid female collected in Franklin County, which died on 13 August and contained twelve well-developed young. Species of Thamnophis are viviparous and develop functional chorioallantoic and omphalallantoic placentae. Although embryos are predominantly lecithotrophic, substantial maternal transfer of respiratory gases, water, sodium, and calcium occurs, and experimental evidence demonstrates organic nutrient transfer consistent with incipient placentotrophy.
This species feeds on small frogs, toads, salamanders, and fish. Caldwell and Glass (1976) observed a Western Ribbonsnake eating a small Bullfrog in Woodson County. Taggart (1992) observed a Western Ribbonsnake consuming a Western Narrow-mouthed Toad in Chase County.
Predators of adult Western Ribbonsnakes include birds, mammals, and larger snakes. Young snakes are eaten by large frogs and fish (Collins, 1993).
First reported in Kansas by Mozley (1877) based on a specimen collected by KU entomologist Francis A. Snow in Wallace County. The earliest existing specimen (KU 2068) was collected in Clark County in May of 1903.
In regions with extensive upland grasslands in the western two-thirds of the state, this taxon can be found well away from streams and ponds.
Based on a captive specimen, Snider and Bowler (1992) reported a maximum longevity for this snake of three years, seven months, and one day.
References
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Taggart, Travis W. 1999. Cherokee County fall 1999 herp count. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (117):6.
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.
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.
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Ellis, Mark R. 2002. Fall 2002 KHS field trip to Washington County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):4-5.
Gubanyi, James E. and Keith Coleman. 2002. Size maxima: Thamnophis proximus. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):14.
Miller, Larry L. 2002. Sumner County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (4):15.
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Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 Summer Field Trip to Scott State Park. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):2.
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.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Spring Field Trip to Bourbon County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Spring Field Trip to Schermerhorn Park, Cherokee County. Collinsorum 2(3/4):4.
Mardis, Dexter and Kevin Scott. 2013. 2013 Kansas Herpetofaunal Counts. Collinsorum 2(3/4):7.
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.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Recent scientific and standard English name changes effecting the Kansas herpetofauna. Collinsorum 3(2-4):9-10.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Spring Field Trip to the Greenhorn Limestone of Russell County. Collinsorum 4(3):2.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Summer Field Trip In The Harvey County Sandhills. Collinsorum 4(3):3.
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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.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Results of the KHS ‘Fall’ field trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 5(2-3):6-7.
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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.
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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:
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Hullinger, Allison, Zackary Cordes, Daren Riedle, and William Stark. 2020. Habitat assessment of the Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)
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Mardis, Dexter R. 2021. Herp Count: Sumner County: KHS-2020-08. Collinsorum 9(3):12-13.
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.
Riedle, J. Daren, Tamera D. Riedle, Zachary Riedle, and Greya Riedle. 2021. Herp Count: Stafford County: KHS-2020-34. Collinsorum 9(3):16.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2021. Herp Count: Barton County: KHS-2020-28. Collinsorum 9(3):16.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2021. Herp Count: Pratt County: KHS-2020-33. Collinsorum 9(3):16.
Hallas, Joshua M., Thomas L. Parchman, and Chris R. Feldman. 2022. Phylogenomic analyses resolve relationships among garter snakes
(Thamnophis: Natricinae: Colubridae) and elucidate biogeographic history
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