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
Black Racer
(Elaphe obsoleta)
(Coluber constrictor)
 Highly variable in color Racer
 Quick and aggressive
 Keeled scales, white and black markings on
 Smooth scales, large eyes,
belly
 Constrictors: eat mice/rats, birds, eggs
 Arboreal
 Common in populated areas-occasionally
found in chimneys, attics, and basements.
some have whitish chin
 Chase down prey:
rodents,
Rat Snake
lizards, insects, other snakes,
frogs
 Diurnal
Racer
Rat Snake
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
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•
•
•
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