|
|
The Red-bellied Snake is a small snake usually around 30 cm, slightly smaller than the brown snake. Its colours are like it says, a red stomach with a brownish black upper colour. There is row of tiny spots on each side. There are three spots on the back of the Red-bellied Snake’s neck, which make for easy identification. The scales are keeled.
They are found in marshy areas and grasslands in the Algonquin Highlands and are very good at hiding which makes an exact population difficult to predict. They feed on beetle larva, worms, snails and slugs. It is thought they may have a very mild venom that weaken prey and/or reduces the effects of the snail’s mucous during digestion. The Red-bellied Snake gives birth to usually 7-8 live young each summer.
The Red-bellied Snake is virtually harmless to humans. It almost never bites and its teeth are not big enough to hurt a human. They will try to display aggressive behavior if they feel scared. They will curl their lips up to expose their teeth, which are barely visible because they are so small, and then hiss. Occasionally these snakes have been known to play dead. They will go completely limp and stay that way until they feel it is safe. Because these snakes are so harmless they usually fall prey to many animals such as other snakes, shrews, hawks, raccoons and squirrels.
|
|
|
|
 |
RED-BELLIED SNAKE
(Family Colubridae)
Storeria occipitomaculata
|
