RIBBON SNAKE - facts & Information
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Ribbon snake video montage filled with information and facts including a frog tug-o-war between a ribbon snake and a broad banded water snake.
INFORMATION:
Ribbon snakes are categorized in the same family as garter snakes, but they behave more like racers or coachwhips. They have lots of attitude, act tough and often bite if grasped in the wild. Their bit will draw a little blood but they are nonvenomous. wash the bite off with soap to be extra careful.
These snakes are really quick on the draw and quick to stink on you with a pungent deterrent musk.
Ribbon snakes hunt with good eyesight and sense of smell. I never see them too far from water where they search and probe for frogs, toads, fish, worms, or anything they can overpower and swallow... And sometimes things they cant overpower and swallow.
Though the tend to be a little more nervous than their cousins the garter snakes, ribbon snakes are also very hardy and adapt well in captivity. Eventually they stop nipping and musking.
Most people have a difficult time telling the difference between garter snakes and ribbon snakes, especially since you usually only get a glimpse of ribbon snakes disappearing in the wild. Besides looking more mischievous, ribbon snakes are generally thinner in girth with skinnier heads, but the profound tell tell white spot in front of each eye gives them away. Also garter snakes have dark notches or banding on their labial scales or lips.
Adult ribbon snakes average around 16–35 in (41–89 cm) in length. Females are the larger sex. Babies are born live and and look just like their parents.
Ribbon snake's yellow stripes are excellent camouflage among stems, twigs and reeds and also serve as an optical trick that makes them seem to vanish when on the move.