Understanding snake characteristics is valuable for personal safety and appreciating the natural world. This article provides insights into identifying snakes that appear black with green stripes, focusing on their features and behaviors.
Key Features of Striped Snakes
The description “black with green stripes” can encompass a range of appearances. The background color, often described as black, might be a very dark shade of green, brown, or olive. Similarly, the “green stripes” can vary, appearing as yellowish-green, olive, or even white or yellow.
Stripe patterns differ, with some snakes displaying a single stripe along their back, while others feature additional side stripes. The width, clarity, and continuity of these stripes are important distinguishing marks.
Identifying Snakes with Black and Green Stripes
Snakes commonly fitting the description of having a dark body with green or yellowish stripes belong primarily to the Thamnophis genus, which includes garter snakes and ribbon snakes. These are widely distributed across North America. Their coloration can vary significantly, often appearing as dark brown, olive, or black with longitudinal stripes.
Eastern garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) typically have a dark brown, green, or olive background with a distinct yellow or white stripe running down the center of their back. They may also have two less distinct side stripes, sometimes with a checkerboard pattern of black or green spots between the stripes. These snakes usually measure between 18 and 26 inches, though some can reach up to 54 inches.
Plains garter snakes (Thamnophis radix) often exhibit a gray-green, olive, or black body with a prominent orange or yellow stripe down their back. They also possess greenish-yellow lateral stripes on the third and fourth scale rows. This species averages around 3 feet in length and can be identified by distinctive black bars on its upper lip. Western terrestrial garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans) are typically olive to gray, featuring a yellow or white dorsal stripe and two similar-colored side stripes. They can also have red or black spots between these stripes and generally range from 18 to 41 inches long.
Ribbon snakes (Thamnophis saurita) are similar to garter snakes but are generally more slender with longer tails, often accounting for about one-third of their total length. Their bodies are black, brown, or dark green, with three distinct yellow, white, or blue stripes running lengthwise. A distinguishing feature of ribbon snakes is a white marking or crescent directly in front of each eye, which is absent in garter snakes.
Habitat, Behavior, and Diet
Garter snakes inhabit a wide range of environments across North America, including meadows, woodlands, marshes, and suburban gardens. They are often found near water sources like ponds, streams, and lakes. These snakes are typically active during the day, seeking sun to regulate their body temperature.
Ribbon snakes prefer more aquatic habitats such as wetlands, shorelines of ponds, and streams, rarely venturing far from water. They are also diurnal, often observed basking on logs or rocks near water. Both garter and ribbon snakes are generally shy and will attempt to flee when disturbed.
Their diets consist of amphibians like frogs, toads, and salamanders, as well as fish, earthworms, and insects. Ribbon snakes particularly favor aquatic prey. Garter snakes are opportunistic feeders, consuming almost any creature they can overpower, including slugs, leeches, and small rodents.
Distinguishing From Look-Alikes
Differentiating black and green striped snakes from other species is important for accurate identification. Other non-venomous snakes may have different colored stripes, such as yellow or white, on a dark background, but lack the specific greenish hue or the slender body shape characteristic of ribbon snakes.
Water snakes (Nerodia species) are sometimes mistaken for garter snakes, but they generally have a more robust body and often display blotchy patterns rather than clear longitudinal stripes, particularly on their bellies. Unlike garter snakes, water snakes typically do not have a prominent dorsal stripe. Some rat snakes may also be confused, but they usually have a different head shape and scale texture, with less prominent keeled scales than garter snakes.
Encountering a Striped Snake: Safety and Coexistence
When encountering any snake, including those with black and green stripes, maintaining a safe distance is recommended. These snakes, such as garter and ribbon snakes, are generally harmless to humans and are non-venomous. However, if handled or threatened, they may bite or release a foul-smelling musk as a defensive mechanism.
Observe snakes from a distance of at least 6 to 10 feet. Do not attempt to handle, harass, or provoke the snake. If a snake is in an undesirable location, allow it to move on its own. If relocation is necessary, contact local animal control or wildlife services rather than attempting to move it yourself. Recognizing snakes as a natural part of the ecosystem helps foster coexistence and appreciation for their role in pest control.