Reptiles
Red-Bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata · also called redbelly snake
Turning over a rotting log in a shaded eastern woodland, a hiker briefly uncovers a red-bellied snake mid-meal on a slug, and if disturbed further, the tiny snake may respond not by striking but by curling back its lip in an oddly convincing grimace.
Overview
The red-bellied snake, Storeria occipitomaculata, is a small, secretive snake native to forest and woodland habitat across a broad range of eastern North America. Its near-total dietary specialisation on slugs and its unusual lip-curling defensive display make it one of the more behaviourally distinctive small snakes found in North American woodlands.
A predator built for the smallest prey
Where larger snakes chase down rodents or frogs, the red-bellied snake has instead carved out a niche hunting something most predators overlook entirely, a specialisation on slugs that keeps this tiny snake tucked into the damp, shaded leaf litter where its prey is found.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable forest and woodland habitat throughout eastern North America.
Red-Bellied Snake: common questions
What does a red-bellied snake mainly eat?
A red-bellied snake feeds almost entirely on slugs, along with earthworms and snails, using saliva that appears to help immobilise these soft-bodied prey items, a specialised diet that keeps the small snake closely tied to moist, slug-rich forest floor habitat.
Why does a red-bellied snake curl its lip?
When threatened, some red-bellied snakes curl back the upper lip in a distinctive grimace-like display, an unusual defensive behaviour thought to make the snake look less appealing or more threatening to a potential predator, rather than relying on striking or fleeing alone.
Is the red-bellied snake dangerous?
No, the red-bellied snake is entirely non-venomous and harmless to people, far too small and secretive to pose any threat, generally spending its time hidden under logs, bark, or leaf litter rather than confronting anything larger than a slug.
Where does the red-bellied snake live?
The red-bellied snake is native to forest, woodland, and grassy edge habitat across a broad range of eastern North America, generally staying hidden under logs, rocks, or leaf litter rather than moving in the open.