ribbon snake

noun

1. either of two long-tailed garter snakes, Thamnophis proximus or T. sauritus, of eastern and central North America, having a brownish body and yellow or orange stripes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ribbon snake¹

An Americanism dating back to 1730–40

Example Sentences

Biologists from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say they need help evaluating the status of the Florida Keys mole skink, Key ringneck snake, rim rock crowned snake, brown snake, ribbon snake, red rat snake and the striped mud turtle.

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Snakes, however, are more abundant, and, besides the rare poisonous copperhead and rattlesnake, careful search will reveal a 72 dozen harmless species, the commonest, of course, being the garter snake and its near relative the ribbon snake.

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In the Western Ribbon Snake the back stripe is darker than those on the side, or in some instances a different color.

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