Western Ring-necked Snake

Diadophis amabilis, (B. & G.)

Colouration: The colouration of the typical form is much like that of the preceding species, except that the black spots on the abdomen are irregularly distributed instead of in a straight row as seen with the allied species.
Distribution: Texas, westward to the Pacific Coast; northward to Washington. Sonora, Mexico.
Habits: From the actions of captive specimens it seems that this little snake at times employs constriction to overpower its prey--small, burrowing snakes, salamanders and earthworms. It has a curious habit, when annoyed, of elevating and twisting its tail in corkscrew fashion, displaying both the dark ground-colour and the bright red of the underside and producing a peculiar effect. The tail is often reared two inches or more from the coil. The habit is demonstrated in the photograph.

This pretty species is considerably more slender than the preceding. It has a greater number of abdominal plates--from 180 to 210.

The variety pulchellus--the Pacific Ring-necked Snake: From the typical form this variety differs in the distinctly greenish (sometimes bluish) ground-colour, the reddish collar and the coral red hue of the abdomen. It inhabits Oregon and California.

Dimensions; Total Length . . . . . 17 inches.

Length of Tail . . . . . 3 5/8 inches.

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

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

Length of Head . . . . . 7/16 inches.