Western Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus (Say, 1823)
| Spanish Name | Culebra Acuática |
|---|---|
| Subspecies | 6 (see below) |
| Max. Recorded Length | 90 cm (SVL); 35.4 inches (SVL) |
| Pet Trade Availability | ★★★★ (readily available) |
| Captivity Rating | ★★☆☆ (fair captive) |
Range
USA: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin.
Mexico: Campeche, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatán.
Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua.
Description
The Western Ribbon Snake is one of the most commonly encountered snakes in the pet trade. Unfortunately, that doesn't make them good pets.
Subspecies
- Chiapas Highland Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus alpinus Rossman, 1963 - Found in Chiapas at high elevations.
- Arid Land Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus diabolicus Rossman, 1963 - Found in western and northwest Texas, eastern New Mexico, and northern Mexico.
- Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus orarius Rossman, 1963 - Found along the Gulf Coast from the Mississippi Delta to Tamaulipas.
- Western Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus proximus (Say, 1823) - Found in the United States away from the Gulf Coast, Texas (though found in eastern Texas) and New Mexico.
- Red-striped Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus rubrilineatus Rossman, 1963 - An attractive red-striped subspecies limited to central Texas.
- Mexican Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis proximus rutiloris (Cope, 1885) - A Central American subspecies found from the Yucatan to Costa Rica.
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