Reptiles of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

NC Records
Colubridae Members:
Regina septemvittata - Queensnake

Photo: Steve Hall

Photo: Travis McLain

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia

Order: Serpentes

Family: Colubridae

Subfamily: Natricinae

Other Common Name(s): Queen Snake

- Queensnake


Taxonomic Comments: Regina, as currently considered, consists of two species of small to medium-sized semi-aquatic natricid snakes distributed throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, with an additional isolated population in the Ozark Mountains. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies changed the composition of this genus (McVay and Carstens, 2013; McVay et al. 2015) but current analyses still render the genus apparently paraphyletic, suggesting further taxonomic changes may occur in the future.
Species Comments: Regina septemvittata, the Queensnake, is the sole representative of Regina in North Carolina. They range throughout the eastern United States, from southeastern Pennsylvania and western New York south to the far western panhandle of Florida, and west to Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin. An isolated population is known from the Ozark Mountains in the central US and Canada. In North Carolina, it can be found in the western and central portions of the state, in the mountains and Sandhills. They are absent from the Coastal Plain; older records assigned to this species should be revisited (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). No subspecies are recognized. The generic epithet Regina is derived from the Latin regius ("queen"). The specific epithet septemvittata is derived from the Latin septem, "seven", and vitta, "stripe", in reference to the alternating light and dark stripes noticeable on some specimens. Taxonomic References: Ernst (2002a), Ernst et al. (2002).

Identification

Description: Queensnakes are small-to-medium sized, slender snakes with semi-rounded heads slightly wider than the neck. Dorsal coloration is typically olive green to brown, with three dark dorsal stripes that are often obscured. A more noticeable stripe is apparent on the sides of the venter rising up to the first scale row, as are yellow to cream ventrolateral stripes along scale rows 1 and 2. The venter is yellow, occasionally fading to gray, often with two faint gray paramedian stripes running its length. The top of the head is typically a bit darker than the dorsum, with cream to yellow labial, throat, and chin scales consistent with the primary ventral coloration.

Juveniles are typically more brightly patterned than adults.

Morphological Features: Queensnakes typically have 19 keeled scale rows at midbody; this may reduce to 15 posteriorly. Ventral counts range from 118–157 (128-144 in NC specimens; Palmer and Braswell, 1995), with 47-87 subcaudals (64-86) and a divided anal plate. Head scale counts are variable, but typically as follows: 7 supralabials, 9 or 10 infralabials, 1 or 2 nasals, 1 loreal, 2 preoculars, 2 postoculars, and varying numbers of temporals (1+2–3+2–4 noted by Ernst and Ernst, 2002). Palmer and Braswell (1995) noted substantial variation in scalation across multiple specimens in NC.

These are typically small to medium-sized snakes, with a maximum total length of 92.1 cm (36.3 inches). Palmer and Braswell (1995) reported a 77.6 cm female specimen from NC. Tail lengths range from 22-34% of total length. Females typically reach larger size than males, have smaller average tail lengths relative to body, and average fewer ventral scales and fewer subcaudal scales. Males are smaller on average but with longer tails relative to body length, more ventrals and more subcaudals.

Queensnakes lack enlarged posterior teeth or any venom-producing capability. When captured, they typically writhe about, releasing musk and feces, and may occasionally bite if threatened, though they pose no danger to humans or pets.

Technical Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Ernst (2003).

Field Guide Descriptions: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Ernst (2003); Beane et al. (2010).

Online Photos: Google iNaturalist GBIF

Observation Methods: Queensnakes may be incidentally encountered under cover objects along or near shallow streams and rivers.

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Key Habitat Requirements

Habitat: Queen Snakes occur primarily in sunny, shallow, rocky rivers in the Piedmont and Mountains (Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Beane et al., 2010).

Biotic Relationships: Queensnakes are crayfish specialists, but unlike our other native crayfish-specialist snake—the Glossy Swampsnake, Liodytes rigida, which consumes both hard-shelled and freshly molted individuals—Queensnakes almost exclusively predate crayfish that are actively molting or have just undergone ecdysis; chemoreception seems to play a role in their ability to find and target these prey. Numerous studies report only crayfish as prey items, including Brown (1979)’s study of 63 specimens from North Carolina. Other reported prey include records of various fish (mudminnows, small catfish, and darters), dragonfly larvae, a single record of a toad, and one record of a snail. There is some disagreement over whether other reported prey—such as newts, frogs, and tadpoles—represent actual records or simply assumptions by authors (Gibbons and Dorcas, 2004).

The few reported predators of Queensnakes are great blue herons, large fish, hellbenders, and ophiophagous snakes (kingsnakes and racers), though it is often suggested that other wading and predatory birds, alligators, carnivorous mammals, and various other ophiophagous snakes likely predate this species (Branson and Baker, 1974; Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Ernst and Ernst, 2003; Gibbons and Dorcas, 2004).

Life History and Autecology

Breeding and Courtship: Queensnakes reach sexual maturity at body lengths of approximately 38 cm (Ernst and Ernst, 2003). Mating occurs in the spring (May).

Reproductive Mode: Queensnakes are viviparous; young are born July to October, but typically August to September. Litters average 9–11 neonates, and larger females produce larger litters.

Neonates average approximately 19–21 cm in total length and weigh an average of 3 g.

Aquatic Life History: Queensnakes are aquatic and tend to be found in streams and rivers, especially unpolluted areas with rocky bottoms, access to sunlight, and crayfish present in abundance. One study found Queensnakes to have the most permeable skin of any snake tested, suggesting that they must stay near water to prevent desiccation (Stokes and Dunson, 1982).

Terrestrial Life History: Queensnakes are primarily diurnal, though occasionally active at night. They spend much of their time under cover or basking on limbs and vegetation overhanging water. They will overwinter in communal hibernacula such as mammal burrows, rocks, or earthen dams. Queensnakes have been recorded in North Carolina March–October; they are most active during late spring and summer, and as a result most records are from May to August.

Home range estimates are not known from North Carolina, though other studies suggest they are small; studies such as Branson and Baker (1974) found an average recapture distance of marked snakes to be less than 23 m, and Ernst (in Ernst and Ernst, 2003) reported juveniles at one site in Pennsylvania had home ranges occupying 10 m within a dam.

General Ecology

Adverse Environmental Impacts

Status in North Carolina

NHP State Rank: S4

Global Rank: G5

Photo Gallery for Regina septemvittata - Queensnake		14 photos are shown.
	Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones Polk Co. Comment:	Recorded by: J. Reynolds Rockingham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: J. Perry Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: J. Thomson Rutherford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Stokes Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Stokes Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Harry LeGrand Alleghany Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Pat Momich Madison Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Pat Momich Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: H. Quay Orange Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Madison Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Caldwell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Caldwell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steve Hall, NHP Staff Orange Co. Comment:

Regina septemvittata - Queensnake

Photo Gallery for Regina septemvittata - Queensnake

14 photos are shown.