Southern Ribbon Snake or Osten-sacken's Ribbon Snake

Eutaenia sackeni, (Kennicott)

Colouration: Dark brown, green or olive above, with a bright yellow stripe on each side, on the third and fourth rows of scales. With some specimens there is an indistinct stripe on the back, showing more brightly for an inch or so behind the head. With the majority, however, the stripe of the back is absent with the exception of a yellow streak on the neck.
Dimensions: This serpent appears to be a somewhat smaller species than the closely allied ribbon snake. The measurements given are of an adult:
Distribution: The coast regions of South Carolina and Georgia; Florida generally.
Habits: In habits this species is very similar to the Ribbon Snake. It is very aquatic, and is seen frequently sunning on the branches of bushes that overhang the water into which it drops when alarmed.

Size and form like the preceding species, but the colouration is distinctly different.

The abdomen is yellowish-white, and immaculate, the edges of the plates tinged with brown as with the ribbon snake. When distended, the skin of the body shows elongated, white spots, There are no square, black blotches between the stripes--the same possessed by many of the garter snakes.

Total Length . . . . . 17 3/4 inches.

Length of Tail . . . . . 6 1/8 inches.

Greatest Diameter . . . . . 1/4 inches.

Width of Head . . . . . 1/4 inches.

Length of Head . . . . . 1/2 inches.

It produces small broods of living young.