Queen Snake: Not Regal But as Picky as Royalty

Today, we're going to dive into the watery world of one of North America's most fascinating reptiles: the queen snake.

The queen snake (Regina septemvittata) is part of the Colubridae family, often spotted dwelling along rivers and streams in the eastern United States. They may not be the most well-known members of the snake world, but once you get to know them, you'll see just how cool they are.

Queen snakes are often confused with their cousins, the garter snakes, but they’re a distinct species with their own special traits. Known for their slender, streamlined bodies, queen snakes are perfectly adapted to life near water. In fact, you’ll usually find them hunting along the banks of rivers, searching for their favorite snack: crayfish.

Physical Characteristics

Queen snakes are slim and agile, perfect for maneuvering through their watery habitats. Their bodies are typically a dull brown to olive color, which helps them blend into the environment. Their muted coloration is especially useful when they’re sneaking up on their prey.

One distinguishing feature of the queen snake is the presence of seven light-colored stripes running down the length of its body. These stripes give them the oh-so creative nickname "seven-striped water snake." You’ll also notice a pale yellow or cream-colored belly, often marked with four dark stripes.

An adult queen snake usually grows to a length of 15 to 24 inches (38 to 61 cm), making them relatively small compared to other snakes. Juvenile queen snakes are even smaller, and their coloration may be more vibrant. As these young snakes mature, their colors tend to darken to a more muted tone.

The males are typically smaller than female queen snakes, but both sexes share the same general appearance.

Different Subspecies

There’s only one recognized species of queen snake, but in some areas, you might hear different local names for this reptile.

For instance, the "willow snake" or the "leather snake" are common names used for queen snakes in certain regions, like around the Appalachian foothills. In some areas, these snakes are even called the "moon snake," thanks to their nocturnal habits during warmer months.

While subspecies of the queen snake haven’t been officially recognized, regional differences in size and coloration exist across their range, making for some richer natural history. The brown queen snake, for example, sometimes has darker skin than other individuals.

Social Habits

Queen snakes are generally solitary creatures, especially outside the mating season. During the breeding period in spring and early summer, male queen snakes actively seek out females for reproduction. Female queen snakes give off pheromones to attract mates, and you’ll often spot multiple males vying for a single female.

Once the breeding season ends, these snakes return to their solitary ways.

When they’re not focused on reproduction, queen snakes spend most of their time basking in the sun on rocks, tree branches or riverbanks. They are semiaquatic and will often retreat into the water if threatened, showing off their fantastic swimming skills.

Although these snakes don’t form colonies or large social groups, they can sometimes be found in loose aggregations near abundant food sources.

Diet

Now, let's talk about food—queen snakes are picky eaters! Their diet primarily consists of newly molted crayfish, which means the snake’s feeding habit is heavily dependent on the availability of soft-shelled crayfish in its environment.

Crayfish shed their hard exoskeletons during molting, and during this brief period, they’re easy prey for queen snakes. Queen water snakes will patrol shallow waters and riverbanks, using their excellent vision and sense of smell to locate their favorite meal.

This specialized diet of queen snakes means they play an important role in regulating crayfish populations in their ecosystems. While they may occasionally eat other small aquatic creatures, newly molted crayfish are their preferred prey, and they rarely deviate from this particular menu.

Environment

Queen snake populations thrive in clean, well-oxygenated rivers and streams. Their ideal habitat includes shallow, rocky waters where crayfish are abundant. Queen snakes can be found throughout a wide range, from Ontario, Canada, down through the eastern United States, particularly in areas with lots of freshwater streams.

However, queen snake populations are highly sensitive to pollution and habitat destruction. When waterways are polluted or altered, it can negatively impact both the snake and the crayfish populations they rely on.

For this reason, queen snakes are often seen as bioindicators of water quality in their environment.

Life Cycle

Like many reptiles, queen snakes have a fascinating reproductive cycle. Female queen snakes give birth to live young, typically between five and 20 offspring in a single litter. Unlike many other snakes that lay eggs, queen snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning the eggs develop inside the female’s body and hatch internally before the young are born.

Newborn snakes begin their life already capable of fending for themselves. After being born in late summer or early fall, these young snakes quickly scatter to find their own food and shelter.

Juvenile queen snakes range in size from about 7 to 9 inches (18 to 23 cm) at birth and grow steadily as they feed on small crayfish. It takes about three years for them to reach sexual maturity, at which point the cycle of reproduction begins again.

Conservation Status

The queen snake is currently listed as a species of least concern, but don’t let that fool you; queen snake populations are under pressure.

Habitat destruction, pollution and the alteration of natural waterways have caused significant declines in certain areas. Clean water is critical to the survival of any queen snake population, which relies heavily on both water quality and the abundance of crayfish for their survival.

In states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, where queen snake populations are struggling, conservation efforts are being implemented to protect and restore their habitats. These efforts are vital to ensuring that the queen snake remains a part of the ecosystem for generations to come.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was edited and fact-checked by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Original article: Queen Snake: Not Regal But as Picky as Royalty

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