HOME | DD
michael-ray — D. p. amabilis
Published: 2009-09-13 03:34:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 2213; Favourites: 68; Downloads: 28
Redirect to original
Description
Diadophis punctatus amabilis - Pacific ringneck snakeSonoma County, California
This is a close up shot showing the underside of the snake and how it will expose it, using the bright colors to ward of potential predators.
Related content
Comments: 31
wow those are absolutely gorgeous colors!!!! what a great technique nature gave this beautiful snake!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
They're fun little guys. I've found multiple species now in 4 states and they're all a little bit different.
Thanks for all the faves also!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
wow really!??! that's super cool! and you're very welcome!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
All ringnecks are the same species (Diadophis punctatus) but there are multiple subspecies that vary only slightly genetically from each other. California has the most with 7 subspecies:
D. p. amabilis - Pacific ringneck
D. p. occidentalis - Northwestern ringneck
D. p. modestus - San Bernardino ringneck snake
D. p. vendenburgii - Monterey ringneck
D. p. pulchellus - Coral bellied ringneck
D. p. similis - San Diego ringneck
D. p. regalis - Regal ringneck (Which is known to only be found in one small mountain range in the state.)
I have found the first four on the list, plus D. p. regalis in Arizona and D. p. arnyi (Prairie ringneck) in both Arkansas and Oklahoma. I'm not 100% sure but I don't think any other states have more than 3 subspecies.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
yeah I was going to say that I did not think NJ has this species... but I could be wrong. They are quite beautiful and that's so awesome you've found so many! I'd love to go herping... I just won't do it alone with the high prevalence of rattles in my area. 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Nope. New Jersey definitely doesn't have this subspecies. They're endemic only to California. Haha
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Can you give me any tips on where to find one of these in the Pacific Northwest?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Where abouts in the Pacific Northwest? They range throughout most of Northern California, through west/central Oregon, and into SW Washington...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I think you can find them just east of you in the Columbia River Gorge, but I don't know for sure. I know they're able to be found in the pine hills outside of Independence, along with lots of rubber boas. Most of my Oregon herping has involved Red spotted and Northwestern garters, mostly around Salem and Independence, but unfortunately, the only spots I know of are private property that I had permission to herp. Any hiking areas or anything in the hills around Portland, all the way South to CA should have them, though. Just look for sunny areas at the edges of woods, especially where there are rocks and just flip rocks. Just remember it's very important to replace the rocks you flip though.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Beautiful colors, like a vibrant twilight beckoning you forward.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Something like that... haha
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wonderful shot of this kind of snake! Perhaps my favorite subspecies are the ones with the most colorful stomachs. I can see this being a very effective way to feign to a predator that eating it would make it sick.
All in all very cool pic.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks a lot and thanks for faving it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ringnecks really are beautiful.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you.
They're definitely pretty snakes. I found close to 100 last year, so they're get pretty boring after a while though. Haha
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh I can never get bored of them.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yup. I'm addicted too. Haha.
I've herped almost every day this year so far, and I'm up to 10 snake species since Valentines day.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh that's really cool.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh man. I hope you get everything figured out soon. I had to miss all of April in 2008 because of being sick.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Well I had my 5th..or is it 6th..and hopefully FINAL MRI today.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Man. Hopefully everything works out okay!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I will be posting in my journal when I hear anything. Hopefully by Thurs. I thought I was just worn out from getting all worked up over the MRI's yesterday. But I still don't feel right. Well I haven't felt right for months but I definitely feel a little worse today. It doesn't help that I am getting mad now too b/c I feel worse. So damn frustrating. Gotta go look at my frogs or tortoise again...that will take my mind off of things.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
