SNAKES OF NORTH CAROLINA

Tertiary Consumers Eat mice, birds, other

snakes, lizards, frogs, fish

Helpful in controlling rodent populations

Cryptic

• 37 species in NC• 6 venomous species

• Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Coral Snake, Timber Rattlesnake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, and Pygmy Rattlesnake

• Majority of species are not venomous

Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)

• Pale stripe down back• Row of small dark

spots along sides• Found in flowerbeds

(mistaken for baby copperheads)

• Eat slugs, earthworms, snails

Eastern King Snake (Lampropeltis getula)

Strong constrictors: eat rodents, small turtles, salamanders, snakes (venomous and non venomous)

Diurnal and often found on farms/suburban areas

Immune to the venom of pitvipers (copperhead, cottonmouth, rattlesnakes)

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) Heavy-bodied Confused with

Cottonmouths Front crossbanded but the

bands begin to alternate on middle and posterior portions of the body

Diurnal and nocturnal When threatened, they

flatten bodies/spread jaws to make themselves appear larger

Aggressive

Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) Highly variable in color Keeled scales, white and black

markings on belly Constrictors: eat mice/rats, birds,

eggs Arboreal Common in populated areas-

occasionally found in chimneys, attics, and basements.

Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) Quick and aggressive Smooth scales, large

eyes, some have whitish chin

Chase down prey: rodents, lizards, insects, other snakes, frogs

Diurnal

Rat Snake

Rat Snake

Racer

Racer

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Most common venomous

snake in NC Heavy bodied Dark brown hourglass shaped

marks Babies have a yellow/green

tail used to lure in prey Often found in established

neighborhoods Vibrate tail when disturbed Bite is painful but rarely fatal

Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus)

• Pinkish/whitish bellies that extends partially up sides

• Sharp points on tail• Small head for

burrowing after insects/earthworms

• Most active at night-found in rotting logs but may burrow deep into the soil during dry spells

• Never bite but wiggle a TON

Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)

Square blotches on back

Young have darker blotches

Strong constrictors Most active at night Found around edges

of fields, clearings, or in barns to feed on rodents.

Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus)

• Distinctive yellow/orange ring around neck

• Dark gray/black back with yellow/orange/red belly

• Forest dwellers-rotting logs, leaf litter, flowerbeds

Curl tail to ward off predators

CROCODILIANS Osteoderms

Bony deposits that form scales/plates in the dermal layers of the skin

Temperature Sex Determination Sex of offspring

determined by the temperature at which eggs are incubated

Tertiary Consumer Eat turtles, snakes, birds,

mammals, etc

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Can grow up to around 16ft

Females build nests out of decaying organic material to heat the eggs

Guard young for up to 3 years after hatching

Diurnal and nocturnal