#LOTS OF SNAKES STANDING PATCH#

Their underside is a yellow color similar to the ring on their neck. The rest of their body is usually a dark gray color, but you will sometimes see snakes that are brown or black. This ring is usually golden or yellow in color. These snakes are named after the light colored ring that forms at the base of their neck. The Northern Ring-Necked Snake, or Diadophis punctatus edwardsii, is one of the most common snakes in Pennsylvania. Not only that, but Northern Black Racers are incredibly good climbers, so you can find them in the branches of shrubs and trees. They can even be found along the banks of streams. You’ll find the snakes across a variety of locations like fields, grasslands, woodlands, and rocky hills. It is not picky about what kind of habitat it makes its home. Northern racers can be found all across Pennsylvania hiding under rocks and inside of logs. Along with that are brown spots that go down the middle of the back. When they’re young, the Northern Black Racer will be gray with dark spots running down their sides. Their adult coloration is quite different from their juvenile coloration.

#LOTS OF SNAKES STANDING PATCH#

Although, they do generally have a small patch of white under their throat. They’re pure black in coloration, both on their backs and stomachs. Although they can grow to incredible lengths, their bodies remain slim which allows them to travel at great speeds. They only live about 10 years, but they can grow up to 36 to 60 inches (76.2 cm to 152.4 cm) in length. The Northern Black Racer, or Coluber constrictor constrictor, is one of the biggest and also most most common species of snake in Pennsylvania. Even when no damage has occurred, fangs are replaced regularly every few weeks. There are new teeth that are constantly developing under the old ones. New ones will simply grow in their place. Pit vipers don’t need to worry about losing or damaging their fangs. Only the tip, where the venom is dislodged, is exposed.Īnother interesting fact about their fangs is that they’re always growing new ones. The fangs are even wrapped in a thin layer of flesh to protect them. When the snake opens its mouth, this bone automatically moves out of the way. They are held in place there by a bone that can move in and out of the way as the snake needs them. When they’re not in use, the snake will hold them back along the surface of their jaw. These fangs are considered to be modified teeth. Pit vipers also have a set of hollow fangs at the front upper jaw. They have regular rows of teeth on their upper and lower jaw. Non-venomous snake head’s are more rounded or oval shaped.

They are typically the size of a triangle. We discussed that non-venomous snakes usually have heads that are twice the size of their neck.

If the Colubrid family is defined by non-venomous snakes, the Viperidae family is defined by venomous snakes. But, they lack the larger, hollow fangs that venomous snakes use to strike. The Colubrids have teeth on both their upper and lower jaws. They also have two rows of scales that run the length of their underside.Įven their teeth are different. Sometimes they are smooth, while other times they are keeled. The pupils are round unlike the pit vipers whose pupils are slitted.Īs for their scales, the large scales cover the head in a regular pattern. The head is also typically twice as wide as their neck. It includes arboreal snakes, ground-dwelling snakes, and water-dwelling snakes.Ĭolubrid, or non-venomous snakes, can be distinguished easily from venomous snakes.Ĭolubrids have a tubular-shaped head that appears almost flattened. The Colubrid family generally encompasses all the non-venomous snakes. Of the 2,700 types of snakes in the world, the Colubrid family makes up three quarters of that. The Viperidae family contains 3 venomous species in Pennsylvania, only one of which is truly dangerous.Ĭolubrid represents a family of snakes and makes up the largest family in the snake species. The 13 Different Types of Pennsylvania Snakes.

Lots of snakes standing