Rainbow Snake
Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma
The rainbow snake has a bluish-black back with three red stripes running lengthwise. (Alan Garrett/Wikimedia Commons)
The rainbow snake is beautifully colored, non-venomous snake that lives in streams, swamps and marshes in southern Maryland and eastern Virginia.
Appearance:
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Glossy, iridescent body
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Bluish-black back with three red stripes running lengthwise
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Red or pink underside with 2-3 rows of black spots
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Yellow tint on the head and sides
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Short tail with a sharp tip
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Usually grows 3-4 feet long
Habitat:
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Lives primarily in streams, swamps and marshes
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Often stays hidden under floating vegetation or debris in the water, as well as within stream banks
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May also burrow into moist sand or mud on land
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Nocturnal and very secretive
Range:
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In the Chesapeake Bay region, found in southern Maryland and eastern Virginia
Feeding:
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Adults only eat eels
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Young may also eat small frogs and tadpoles
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Eats its prey by swallowing it headfirst
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
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Creates a nest, where the female lays about 20 eggs in July
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The female protects the nest until the eggs hatch in late summer or autumn
Other Facts:
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Scientific name comes from the Greek erythro meaning “red” and gramma meaning “line.”
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Also known as eel moccasins because they like to eat eels
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Strong swimmer
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Rainbow snakes are not aggressive and rarely bite if captured.
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Listed as an endangered species in Maryland
Sources and Additional Information:
