Snakes with Bands – A Guide to Identifying These Colorful Reptiles

Banded snakes are some of the most visually striking serpents in North America. Their circular bands wrap horizontally around their bodies, making them instantly recognizable. These bands come in a rainbow of colors – red, yellow, black, brown, and more Some species even have multicolored bands.

So what’s with the bands? They likely serve an evolutionary purpose, signaling to predators that these snakes may be venomous or toxic. This warning coloration is mimicked by nonvenomous species as well. While bands may suggest danger, most banded snakes in the U.S. are harmless to humans.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common banded snake species

Nonvenomous Banded Snakes

California Kingsnake

The California kingsnake is one of the most popular pet snakes. It has a black or brown body with crisp white, yellow, or cream bands. Some morphs have orange-red bands instead. These docile constrictors feast on rodents, lizards, and other snakes.

Gopher Snake

Also called the bullsnake, this large constrictor inhabits fields, prairies, and woodlands across much of North America. It has a yellowish, tan, or cream-colored body with brown or black blotches that sometimes join to form bands.

Milk Snake

Several milk snake species occur in the U.S., all banded in some form. The eastern milk snake has red, black, and white bands reminiscent of the deadly coral snake. Other milk snakes display gray, brown, and black bands.

Garter Snake

Common across North America, garter snakes exhibit incredible color variation, including brown stripes on a blackish background. Some have yellow or white stripes instead. They thrive in wet areas near streams and ponds.

Shovel-Nosed Snake

Two shovel-nosed snakes inhabit the deserts of California and Arizona. They have pale scales with bold, thick dark bands around the body. As their name suggests, they have a distinct shovel-shaped snout.

Coachwhip

This slender light brown or tan snake has several dark bands near the head and tail. Coachwhips move incredibly fast, earning them the nickname “race runners.” Their diet consists mainly of lizards and small mammals.

Venomous Banded Snakes

While most banded snakes are harmless, several venomous species also display bands or rings. They include:

Coral Snakes

Several coral snake species in the U.S. have the iconic red, yellow/white, and black banding. They carry a powerful neurotoxic venom capable of killing humans. Coral snake antivenom exists for treatment.

Rattlesnakes

Many rattlesnakes have blotchy banding, like the western diamondback. Others, like the timber rattlesnake, display stripes. All pack a potentially lethal hemotoxic venom that attacks blood cells and tissues.

Copperhead

Copperheads get their name from the coppery brown bands on their tan, gray, or pinkish bodies. They are pit vipers with hemotoxic venom that can cause severe reactions. Their range spans across much of eastern North America.

Cottonmouth

Also called water moccasins, cottonmouths are aquatic pit vipers found in the southeastern U.S. They have dark crossbands on a brown, tan, or nearly black body. Their venom packs a painful, tissue-damaging punch.

Identifying Banded Snakes

When you stumble upon a banded snake, how do identify if it’s friend or foe? Here are a few tips:

• Note the band colors and pattern. Mimics like the milk snake copy coral snake bands.

• Count the bands. Harmless species often have more bands than venomous ones.

• Check the head shape. Pit vipers like copperheads have distinct triangular heads.

• Listen for a rattle or buzzing tail. A warning sound means danger!

• Observe from a safe distance. Don’t approach or disturb the snake.

Fascinating Reptiles

Whether striped, blotched, or banded, snakes showcase amazing diversity. Their circular bands and rings make them some of nature’s most remarkable reptiles. With caution and respect, we can admire these creatures for their beauty. Just be sure to give any potentially dangerous species plenty of space!