Original Wild Facts, Reptiles

Wild Fact #114 – A Fashionable Reptile – Regal Ringneck Snake

Regal Ringneck Snake
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Cool Stuff You Might Like To Know!

  • The Regal Ringneck Snake is a sub-species of the more common Ringneck Snake and is found in southwestern United States and of course in northern Mexico.
  • As you might expect these snakes get their name from a bright yellow or orange ring around their neck (the name really didn’t leave any suspense, did it?)
  • Although the Regal Ringneck Snake lives in an area covered with deserts, these slippery reptiles prefer to reside in the mountains (wouldn’t you rather live in the mountains then the hot, dry desert?)
  • Unlike other Ringneck Snakes, this particular sub-species has a diet that consists mostly of other snakes, although they will eat lizards and other reptiles too (when you are hungry, you will eat anything).

Sharp-Dressed Snake

The Regal Ringneck Snake has a fascinating wardrobe. For starters they are mostly a sharp looking blue-grey colour and then they add in a few accessories that makes them quite stunning to look at. There is the previously mentioned bright yellow/orange necklace but these slithering serpents also have a mix of bright red/orange underneath their tail. Unfortunately, seeing this colourful underside of the Regal Ringneck Snake is not the easiest thing in the world. Why?

Regal Ringneck Snake
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The Most Venomous Ringneck Snake

Like most animals that are brightly coloured, the Regal Ringneck Snake is the most venomous of all the Ringneck Snakes in North America, so you probably wouldn’t want to try picking them up to get a peak at their underside. How venomous are they? Well, they do have a potent venom but the real scary part is the speed that the venom starts to work. For example, an unfortunate lizard (which is usually lunch for this hungry snake) will start to feel the impact in a matter of minutes. This usually means the lizard will become paralyzed, which makes it much easier for the Regal Ringneck Snake to consume.  I wasn’t able to find any records of the Regal Ringneck Snake biting humans but once again, I wouldn’t want to be the first so I recommend being careful while wandering around the mountains of southwester United States (or northern Mexico).

 

6 Comments

  1. I’ve handled thousands of these while growing up in San Diego, CA. Typically, when handled, these snakes will curl into a ball and attempt to hide within their windings.
    I have been bitten by 2 of them, neither were able to break the skin of my fingers, as such, I never suffered any ill effects from the bite.
    The venom itself is mild, and comparing the effects on a creature with a body mass small enough for the Ringneck Snake to ingest to that of a Human, is rather out of scope.

  2. ok, well this is wired i found one in my front yard in Kansas. I took it in and it hasn’t done anything and it is a baby and is there any way i can train it to not bite?

    1. Yes, if you poke it enough and let it try to bite you enough then it will realise that biting doesn’t get it anywhere and will stop biting. It will then become a normal family pet. They will happily sit on your lap whilst you watch tv, sleep in your bed with you (you can’t do this with an anaconda or boa constrictor but these babies are just fine) and will run to the door whenever the paperboy comes or the doorbell is rung. In a nutshell, they will be just like a pet dog but without the hair.

      Just make sure that you let him get the biting out of his system first though so plenty of your finger / arm / let / neck whilst they are young and you’ll be fine.

      1. Yes you’re right that a good way to train them. Coolgirl, In Australia we have Rainbow Snakes. They are very hard to find but once you get on they make great pets. To get about they put their tails in their mouth, do a little spin & they roll along like a hoop. Sometimes they are called Hoop snakes, great for kids. They never bite & only eat crickets & other insects.

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