Ring-necked Coffee Snake

Ninia diademata

Description:

This was not the Ring-necked Snake I expected when I first saw it. This one is black and white on the underside and has rugose scales on the upper body which are a smokey dark grey. The neck ring is bright orange and broken at the top, with a small orange dot above the break. The tail is long and becomes very thin at the tip. This must be a juvenile, as it was pencil thin and about 22 cm in length. These snakes are docile, non-venomous and nocturnal, feeding on earthworms, slugs and snails. Family Dipsadidae. This is a snake endemic to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, living in humid forests in the leaf litter.

Habitat:

Found at night in the garden, semi-rural residential area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico 2,200 meters. I am very happy to have him in my garden.