AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CLUB OF NORTH DAKOTA

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North Dakota is host to 8 species of snakes:

• Red-sided Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis
• Plains Garter Snake, Thamnophis radix
• Northern Red-bellied Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata
• Smooth Green Snake, Opheodrys vernalis
• Plains Hog-nosed Snake, Heterodon nasicus
• Gophersnake (Bullsnake), Pituophis catenifer
• Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer, Coluber constrictor
• Prairie Rattlesnake, Crotalus viridis (venomous)

RED-SIDED GARTERSNAKE

SIZE: 16-26 inches.

RANGE: Throughout the state.

HABITAT: Edges of meadows, wetlands, woodlands, and in housing developments.

NOTE: The subspecific name is *T. s. parietalis.* According to Peterson's Field Guide (2016), "(T. sirtalis is) probably a complex of species with lineages not corresponding to currently recognized subspecies." (p. 433)

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PLAINS GARTERSNAKE

SIZE: Between 15-28 inches long.

RANGE: Throughout the state.

HABITAT: Prairie potholes, marshes, pond edges, and coulee bottoms.

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NORTHERN RED-BELLIED SNAKE

SIZE: Between 8-10 inches long.

RANGE: Roughly the eastern half of North Dakota.

HABITAT: In or around woodlands.

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SMOOTH GREEN SNAKE

SIZE: Between 18-20 inches long.

RANGE: Entire state except for the Red River Valley.

HABITAT: Grasslands, open areas.

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PLAINS HOG-NOSED SNAKE

SIZE: Between 15-25 inches long.

RANGE: Entire state except for the Red River Valley and the northeast corner.

HABITAT: Grasslands, prairie, and mixed forest habitats preferring sandy or gravelly soil.

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GOPHERSNAKE (BULLSNAKE)

SIZE: Between 37-72 inches long.

RANGE: To the west of the Missouri River, although it is found just across the northeast of the river.

HABITAT: Grasslands, woodlands, meadows, river bluffs.

NOTE: The Bullsnake is considered a subspecies of the Gophersnake, *P. c. sayi.*

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EASTERN YELLOW-BELLIED RACER

SIZE: Between 23-50 inches long.

RANGE: Primarily in sagebrush areas of southwestern North Dakota.

HABITAT: Found near water in sagebrush habitats.

NOTE: Considered a subspecies, *C. c. flaviventris.*

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PRAIRIE RATTLESNAKE

SIZE: Between 35-50 inches long.

RANGE: To the southwest of the Missouri River.

HABITAT: Grasslands and sagebrush habitats, also high rocky ledges of buttes.

NOTE: VENOMOUS. This species can be distinguished by its tell-tale rattle on the end of its tail, and most venomous snakes can be distinguished from non-venomous species by their wedge-shaped heads, although some non-venomous species flare their head in an effort to imitate this wedge shape. These snakes do not view humans as their natural prey and would rather flee than bite. LEAVE THEM ALONE.

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ALSO IN THE ARCND SERIES:

• Introduction
• Salamanders of ND
• Frogs and Toads of ND

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REFERENCES
Information taken from:

1. Peterson's Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians, Fourth Edition (2016)
2. Crother et al.'s SCIENTIFIC AND STANDARD ENGLISH NAMES OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF NORTH AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO, WITH COMMENTS REGARDING CONFIDENCE IN OUR UNDERSTANDING, Seventh Edition (2012)
3. ND Game and Fish's Reptiles and Amphibians of North Dakota (2015)

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Red-sided Gartersnake: EOL
2. Plains Gartersnake: Wikipedia
3. Red-bellied Snake: SREL
4. Smooth Green Snake: Wikipedia
5. Plains Hog-nosed Snake: SDGFP
6. Bullsnake: Wikipedia
7. Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer: MDC
8. Prairie Rattlesnake: Wikipedia