San Diego Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus similis
- D. p. similis – San Diego Co, CA – photo by Will Wells
- D. p. similis – San Diego Co, CA – photo by Will Wells
- D. p. similis – San Diego Co, CA – photo by Kent VanSooy
- D. p. similis – San Diego Co, CA – photo by Kent VanSooy
- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Diadophis p. similis occurs in coastal southern California and inland to the Peninsular Mountain range from southwestern Riverside County and southern Orange County to the Mexican border.
LEGAL STATUS: No Listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Diadophis punctatus similis (Blanchard – 1923)
Genus: Diadophis, Latin – diadoma = crown + Greek – ophis = snake, serpent
Species: punctatus, Latin – punctat = dotted, spotted as with punctures – ref. to spotted belly of the species
Subspecies: similis, Latin = like, or similar to – ref. to other ring-necked snake subspecies
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jeager 1962




