Quote:
Originally Posted by Nanci
Don't they flash their brightly-colored bellies to ward off predators?
|
Pretty much. They (
Diadophis) are a rear-fanged genus. The genus as a whole could/needs some decent taxonomic review. A few, possibly many, feel a few subspecies could be elevated to full species status; particularly the regal ringneck of the SW US. Regals can get large, exceeding 30 inches, and have been documented incompasitating smaller snakes with their venom. Years ago a few AZ guys had posted photos of a large regal eating a smallish Sonoran gopher snake over on a field herping forum (forget which forum).
Here's a 2ftish animal found by a friend some years ago in threat posture: