1. Snakes of North carolina

2. Tertiary Consumers Helpful in controlling rodent populations Cryptic
Eat mice, birds, other snakes, lizards, frogs, fish
Helpful in controlling rodent populations
Cryptic

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. Black Rat Snake Black Racer (Elaphe obsoleta) (Coluber constrictor)
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
Racer
Rat Snake
Racer
Rat Snake

8. 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

9. Worm Snake Pinkish/whitish bellies that extends partially up sides
(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

10. Corn Snake Square blotches on back Young have darker blotches
(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.

11. Ringneck Snake Distinctive yellow/orange ring around neck
(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

12. 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

13. American Alligator Can grow up to around 16ft
(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