Redbelly Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)

Description: 8 - 10 inches. Redbelly Snakes vary in color from dark shades of gray or brown to lighter rusty red or cinnamon color. There are three light spots on the neck, and a wide stripe down the center of the back that is a lighter color than the sides. The belly is, as the name implies, usually bright red, but may be orange or pink.

Similar Species: The three spots on the neck may look like a ring on the neck, and cause this snake to be confused with Prairie Ringneck Snakes, but Prairie Ringneck Snakes will not have the wide stripe running down the back, and will have black spots on the belly. Brown Redbelly Snakes may be confused with the Brown Snakes or Smooth Earth Snakes. Brown Snakes have rows of dots on both sides of the stripe on the back, and Smooth Earth Snakes either completely lack a stripe down the back, or when present, will have a much narrower and more faint stripe.

Age in years of Most Recent Record
75+ 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5
                             

This map is generated from data provided by the Drake University Biodiversity Center, observations from HerpMapper.org, the Iowa DNR Natural Areas Inventory, as well as other sources. Please help us keep it up to date by reporting your sightings to HerpMapper.

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