There are no known negative effects of queen snakes on humans. Some fishermen kill queen snakes because they think they compete with them for fish. They misunderstand what crayfish eat.
Queen snakes are preyed on by herons and raccoons. They may also be eaten by larger snakes, predatory fish, large frogs, hawks, otters, and mink. Small queen snakes may also be threatened by their crayfish prey if grabbed by their strong claws. Queen snakes are not aggressive but will bite if harassed and will smear their attacker with foul smelling secretions if grabbed.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Queen snakes are colubrid snakes measuring 34 to 92.2 cm in total length. The dorsal surface is typically brownish or olive-colored. The species is distinguishable by a yellow band running horizontally down the sides and onto the labial scales. Younger individuals exhibit horizontal black bands on the dorsum. The ventral scales are bright yellow, with 4 brownish lengthwise stripes that converge towards the tail. Their scales are keeled and there are 19 dorsal rows at the mid-body. Queen snakes have rounded pupils. Unlike similar-looking garter snakes, queen snakes have a divided anal plate and lack a light dorsal stripe.
Range length: 34 to 92.2 cm.
Other Physical Features: heterothermic
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
It is not known how long queen snakes live in the wild. A captive lived for over 19 years.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 19 (high) years.
Queen snakes are semi-aquatic and are found near shallow, rocky rivers and streams, the edges of lakes, ponds, ditches, and canals, and in marshes. They are found in habitats with abundant crayfish. Preferred habitats are open or partly shaded. Queen snakes bask on rocks and logs along the water's edge or hang from tree limbs above the water. In the northern part of their range they hibernate in the burrows of crayfish or mammals.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; freshwater
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams
Wetlands: marsh ; swamp
Queen snakes, Regina septemvittata, range from the southern Great Lakes south to the Florida panhandle and east through the Carolinas and north to southeastern Pennsylvania, New York, and the Georgian Bay in Ontario. These snakes are generally restricted to east of the Mississippi River, although there is a disjunct population in south-central Arkansas and Missouri. A third, small population of queen snakes occurs on Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Queen snakes eat mainly crayfish. They prefer to eat freshly molted crayfish to avoid ingesting the hard exoskeletons. Occasionally they take small fish and tadpoles. Queen snakes search for prey by swimming and searching under rocks and other underwater debris where prey are hiding. They use their powerful sense of chemosensation to find prey.
Animal Foods: amphibians; fish; aquatic crustaceans
Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats non-insect arthropods)
Queen snakes impact crayfish populations as specialist crayfish predators. They are also prey for many small to medium-sized predators.
Queen snakes are valuable members of the ecosystems they live in.
The eggs of queen snakes develop within the bodies of females, where they hatch. Females then give birth to live young.
Queen snake populations are considered stable throughout most of their range. Populations in the Great Lakes region and the Delmarva peninsula of Maryland seem to be declining as a result of habitat degradation, such as development along streams, rivers, and lakes, draining of wetlands, and pollution and siltation of aquatic systems.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Like other snakes, queen snakes use their sense of chemical perception (smell) to find prey and mates. They use their vision as well and are likely to be sensitive to vibrations. Aside from mating interactions, little is known about communication among queen snakes.
Communication Channels: chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical
Males find receptive females by using their tongues to sense chemical cues. If a female is ready to mate, the male aligns his body and vent with hers and copulation ensues.
Mating System: polygynous
Queen snakes breed in the spring, typically in May. They are a live-bearing snake species and give birth to 5 to 31 (usually 10 to 12) from August to September. Males and females reach sexual maturity at 2 years old, but its likely that females don't breed for the first time until they are 3 years old.
Breeding interval: Queen snakes breed once yearly.
Breeding season: Queen snakes breed in the spring, often in May.
Range number of offspring: 5 to 31.
Average number of offspring: 11.
Range gestation period: 90 to 120 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; oviparous
Females expend significant energy in supplying their eggs with nutrients and gestating them. Once the young are born, however, females do not provide care.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
Užovka sedmipruhá (Regina septemvittata) je druh hada z čeledi užovkovití (Colubridae) a rodu užovka (Natrix). Druh popsal Say v roce 1825. První exempláře byly nalezeny v Arkansasu v Hot Springs. Je to zvíře nearktické oblasti, vyskytuje se ve Spojených státech amerických a Kanadě. Měří 34 až 92,2 cm, samice jsou větší než samci. Dle Mezinárodního svazu ochrany přírody jde o málo dotčený druh se stabilní populací.
Užovka sedmipruhá je zvířetem nearktické oblasti. Vyskytuje se v Kanadě a Spojených státech amerických od Velkých kanadských jezer, směrem jižně až po oblast Floridy a západně až do New Jersey. Obývají především oblasti obydlené raky.
K životu dává přednost čistým (znečištěným oblastem se vyhýbá, patrně také proto, že se ve znečištěné vodě nevyskytují raci) sladkým tekoucím vodám, žije však rovněž u stojatých vod, jako jsou jezera, někdy se pohybuje i dále u vody. Obývá zalesněné i otevřené oblasti. Jako doupě může sloužit například opuštěná nora nebo skalní rozsedliny. S oblibou se vyhřívá na větvích visících nad vodou.
Užovka sedmipruhá měří 34 až 92,2 cm, samice bývají větší než samci, avšak obě pohlaví jsou si podobné. Tělo je štíhlé. Zbarvení se může pohybovat od šedé, přes nahnědlou až po olivovou barvu. Na hřbetě se nacházejí převážně u mladých užovek tři hnědé pruhy, na břiše, které má žluté zbarvení, čtyři. Pruhy na spodní části těla se spojují u ocasu. Na rozdíl od užovek rodu Thamnophis má tento druh nerozdělený kloakální štítek.
Užovka sedmipruhá se orientuje především pomocí čichu a dovede vnímat také vibrace.
Užovka sedmipruhá je samotářsky žijící had vyhledávající společnost pouze v období rozmnožování. Páření probíhá jednou ročně, obvykle na jaře. Samec se před kopulací narovná. Samice jsou vejcoživorodé a v srpnu až září rodí nejčastěji 10 až 12 mláďat, o která se po narození dále nestará. Mladé užovky dosáhnou pohlavní dospělosti po 2 letech, délka života ve volné přírodě není známa. Druh je denní, někdy též soumračný, den tráví z velké části sluněním na kamenech. Velikost teritoria není známa, sdílí jej ale například s užovkou mokasínovou (Nerodia sipedon).
Potravu tvoří převážně raci, přičemž užovky preferují ty čerstvě svléklé z krunýřů, užovky však pojídají také ryby a pulce.
Nebezpečí tomuto druhu hrozí převážně v severních a okrajových částech jeho areálu výskytu. Zde kvůli kyselým dešťům vymizela velká část raků, mezi tyto oblasti se řadí například Velká kanadská jezera. Úbytky hadů způsobuje rovněž vysoušení mokřadů. Vzhledem k rozsáhlému areálu výskytu a velké populaci je však řazen jako málo dotčený druh. V jeho areálu výskytu není chráněn, ochrana probíhá pouze v Georgii, ale obývá řadu chráněných území.
Mezi přirozené nepřátele patří dravé ryby, velcí skokani, hadi, volavkovití (Ardeidae), jestřábovití (Accipitridae), norek americký (Neovison vison), mýval severní (Procyon lotor) a vydra severoamerická (Lontra canadensis).
Obrázky, zvuky či videa k tématu užovka sedmipruhá ve Wikimedia Commons
Užovka sedmipruhá (Regina septemvittata) je druh hada z čeledi užovkovití (Colubridae) a rodu užovka (Natrix). Druh popsal Say v roce 1825. První exempláře byly nalezeny v Arkansasu v Hot Springs. Je to zvíře nearktické oblasti, vyskytuje se ve Spojených státech amerických a Kanadě. Měří 34 až 92,2 cm, samice jsou větší než samci. Dle Mezinárodního svazu ochrany přírody jde o málo dotčený druh se stabilní populací.
The queen snake (Regina septemvittata) is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic snake, a member of the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.
R. septemvittata is known by many common names, including the following: banded water snake, brown queen snake, diamond-back water snake, leather snake, moon snake, North American seven-banded snake, olive water snake, pale snake, queen water snake, seven-striped water snake, striped water snake, three-striped water snake, willow snake, and yellow-bellied snake.[5]
R. septemvittata ranges through the temperate region of North America east of the Mississippi River from western New York state to Wisconsin and south to Alabama and northern Florida. It is also found in the southwestern parts of Ontario.
New Jersey was at the edge of its range and it is now believed to be extirpated from the state.[6] Decreases in Queen snake populations can be most attributed to a loss of food sources through stream channelization, bank erosion, and water pollution. [7]
The queen snake is similar in appearance to a garter snake, genus Thamnophis, so is often confused with that group. The queen snake is olive to gray or dark brown in overall coloration, with peach or yellow stripes that run down its length at the first scale row. There are also four prominent ventral stripes of a darker colour, and as no other similar species has stripes running down the length of its belly, this is an important feature in identifying this snake. In the young and juvenile snakes there are three extra stripes: one stripe that runs along the vertebral dorsal scales, and two stripes (one on each side) that run down the length of the body at scale rows five and six. These extra stripes tend to fade as the snake matures, but when young the snake will have a total of seven stripes, three on the back and four on the belly, which gives cause for its taxonomical reference name, Regina (queen) septemvittata (seven-striped). The belly of the snake is a cream to yellow colour.
The head of the queen snake is narrow and has nine large plate-like scales on the top, and the chin has several rows of thicker scales. This is a protective adaptation, for the snake's feeding habit of chasing its prey under rocks. The pupil of the eye is round, a feature shared with most other colubrids. There are 19 rows of keeled dorsal scales at midbody, and the anal plate is divided. The sexes are often difficult to distinguish based on external characteristics. Male queen snakes have relatively longer tails than females. Males have from 65 to 89 subcaudal scutes (average 76), with the tail from 23% to 34% of the snake's total length. Females have 54 to 87 subcaudals (average 69), with tails equal to 19% to 27% of total length.
Queen snakes are not large, and they seldom grow to more than 24 inches (61 cm) in total length (including tail). The females are generally slightly larger than the males.
Female queen snakes will be fully sexually mature at three years of age, males at two years. Breeding takes place in the spring and autumn months. If mating was in the autumn, the female can delay giving birth until spring, storing the energy she will need through the months that she will be in a period of brumation. This snake is ovoviviparous, the female giving birth to live young after carrying the eggs within her body. This differs from oviparous and viviparous snakes. Litter size can vary from 5 to 20, and the time for an individual birth is from 1.5 to 2.5 minutes. Time between individual births is 4 minutes to 1 hour, with the average time being 11 minutes.
The newly born snakes will be approximately 6 in (15 cm) long and weigh 0.1 ounces (2.8 g). Newborn snakes begin to grow very rapidly and may shed their skin twice in their first week while living on the nutrient rich yolk stores they preserve through this time in their lives. The baby snakes are able to swim and move about and they must fend for themselves independently directly after birth. Juvenile queen snakes range from 17.5 to 23 cm (6.9 to 9.1 in) in length.
The habitat requirements for the queen snake are very specific, and this snake is never found in areas that lack clean running streams and watersheds with stony and rocky bottoms. The water temperature must be a minimum of 50 °F (10 °C) during the snake's active months. This is in a large part due to the snake's dietary requirements. They subsist almost entirely on fresh water crayfish. It preys almost exclusively on newly-molted crayfish, which are not able to defend themselves effectively with their pincers. One study indicates that crayfish make up over 90% of the snake's diet.[8] Other sources of food include frogs, tadpoles, newts, minnows, snails, and fairy shrimp. The queen snake does not find its food by sight or heat detection, but by smell, using its tongue to carry the scent of its prey to receptors within its mouth. In this way it is able to home in on its prey, even under water.
The queen snake is in a period of brumation throughout the winter months, and groups of them can be found in "hibernacula", near water. These hibernation dens can be inside old bridge abutments, cracked concrete retaining walls and dams, and in niches of bedrock. During this time, the snakes are lethargic, and their main prey, crayfish, may become the predator, particularly of the young snakes.
It is a diurnal species, but it can be found moving about and hunting at night as well. They are often found by turning over rocks within or near the brooks and streams they inhabit. They will also come out of the water to bask in the sun, often perching on branches or roots above or near the waters edge. Queen snakes are very alert to any potential danger and will drop into the water when disturbed. They are rather docile snakes, not too likely to bite. Their main defenses are thrashing, spinning, and secreting malodorous feces and anal musk, similar to the behaviour of the garter snake in this defense. [9] Queen snakes have been shown to use the sun for celestial orientation in their habitat.[10]
Predators of queen snakes are raccoons, otters, mink, hawks and herons. Large frogs and fish will also eat the young snakes. When approached by predators, queen snakes will flee a distance directly related to their internal temperature.[11] The main threat to the queen snake is habitat loss as waterways are drained, disturbed or polluted. Crayfish, their main food, are sensitive to acidification and accumulation of heavy metals. Thus, as waterways have become polluted and crayfish have died out, the queen snake population has declined throughout its former range. In many areas the queen snake has disappeared or has become in danger of doing so.
Queen snakes are described as dietary specialists, feeding primarily on crayfish. They have been documented favoring crayfish that are freshly molted. R. septemvittata are especially sensitive to a chemical compound called ecdysone that is produced by crayfish during their molting cycle which help them find that prey easier. One study done offered crayfish during their molting cycle and crayfish not on their molting cycle to queen snakes to see which they preferred. The results showed that the queen snakes would not eat the prey if it was not releasing ecdysone. If none of these prey can be found, queen snakes will resort to eating small fish. [12]
The queen snake (Regina septemvittata) is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic snake, a member of the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.
Regina septemvittata Regina generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Natricidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Regina septemvittata Regina generoko animalia da. Narrastien barruko Natricidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Regina septemvittata, la Couleuvre royale, est une espèce de serpents de la famille des Natricidae[1].
Cette espèce se rencontre[1] :
Regina septemvittata, la Couleuvre royale, est une espèce de serpents de la famille des Natricidae.
Rắn nữ hoàng, danh pháp khoa học Regina septemvittata, là một loài rắn trong họ Rắn nước. Loài này được Say mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1825.[1]
Bài viết liên quan họ Rắn nước này vẫn còn sơ khai. Bạn có thể giúp Wikipedia bằng cách mở rộng nội dung để bài được hoàn chỉnh hơn. Rắn nữ hoàng, danh pháp khoa học Regina septemvittata, là một loài rắn trong họ Rắn nước. Loài này được Say mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1825.
女王蛇（學名：Regina septemvittata）是蛇亞目新蛇科下的一個無毒蛇種，主要分布於北美洲的紐約西部以至密西西比河東部一帶，與及威斯康辛、阿拉巴馬以及佛羅里達等州份。在安大略省西南部亦能找到牠們的蹤影。
女王蛇的外貌頗像束帶蛇，因此經常被人誤認。女王蛇的身體顏色大致偏向橄欖色、灰色與及深棕色，渾身遍佈粉紅色或黃色的直條紋帶。女王蛇的腹部呈白色或黃色，斑紋色澤較沉，相當顯眼，而最特殊的地方是一般蛇類都不會在腹部位置，有著這麼顯著密集而且長度延至全身的直紋。因此辨認腹部是鑑定女王蛇的其中一個重點。女王蛇在幼蛇階段時背部會多出三條特殊的直紋，而當牠們逐漸成長，這三條直紋會慢慢消失。而女王蛇的學名「Regina septemvittata」正是來自其幼年的特徵，「Regina」在拉丁文中代表「女王」，而「Septemvittata」即「七條斑紋」的意思。
女王蛇的頭部相當幼小，而且長有九片平廣像板塊般的鱗片。這些鱗片對於女王蛇有著保護作用，因為牠們經常要在岩石之間穿梭覓食。女王蛇的瞳孔圓渾，這亦是所有新蛇的共有特徵。另外，女王蛇的性別是很難僅靠外表來判斷的，唯一可以觀察的特色就是牠們的長度，雄性女王蛇的尾部一般比雌性長；而鱗片數量計，雄性女王蛇尾鱗大約有65至89片（平均約76片），而尾部長度約為全身的23至34%。雌性女王蛇尾鱗則大概只有54至87片（平均約69片），尾部長度約為全身的19至27%而已。
女王蛇身型並不巨大，身長很少會超過60公分。雌性女王蛇體寬一般較雄性大，而且雌性女王蛇會在三歲的時候才充分成長，比起兩歲就已成長的雄性遲熟。女王蛇一般會在春季及秋季時產卵，如果牠們是在秋季交配，那麼母蛇能把生產時間延遲至來年的春季才進行，目的是為了避免在冬眠前夕消耗太多的能量與體力。
女王蛇是屬於卵胎生的蛇種，雌蛇在體內孕育蛇卵，再把已經長成的幼蛇產出。一般的女王幼蛇約有5至20英吋，每誕下一條幼蛇需時約1至3分鐘，而產下每條幼蛇之間可以相隔4分鐘至1個小時，平均而言約為11分鐘。初生幼蛇成長速度相當快，在首個星期內已能作兩次褪皮。幼蛇在出生後已經可以游泳，而且開始要獨力生存。
女王蛇對於棲息地相當有要求，牠們不會居住於沒有較為潔淨流水的地區。除了冬眠時期以外，女王蛇都要求生活環境附近的流水水溫至少達攝氏28°C。這是因為此類蛇的主要糧食是生存於水質清潔裡的小螯蝦或蟹類。牠們會進食水裡大部分的甲殼類動物（接近九成的種類都會進食[1]），牠們只捕食剛進行蛻皮的螯蝦或蟹，因為剛蛻皮後的蝦蟹，其鉗子及甲殼均較為軟弱，難以對女王蛇作出自衛及反擊。另外，女王蛇亦會捕食蛙類、蝌蚪、蠑螈、蝸牛及小魚等。牠們不會憑視力或熱力感應來尋找獵物，而是以舌頭上的嗅覺來作主要探測工具，這令牠們即使身處水中仍能有效地獵食。
女王蛇在冬季時會在水源附近進入冬眠狀態，牠們會選擇如橋樑下、牆壁角落、地下水道等位置作為巢穴。這時候牠們會變得遲緩，逐漸進入休眠。而平日作為女王蛇獵物的生物，尤其是甲殼類動物，便會在這段期間轉變身份為獵食者，其獵食對象更可能就是女王蛇的幼蛇。
女王蛇是具備夜行性的蛇種，主要於晚間活動，不過有時亦會鑽出水中而在陸地上進行日光浴。女王蛇的警覺性相當高，只要稍為感應到危機便會立即遁進水裡。另外，相對於其它蛇種而言，女王蛇其實是屬於比較溫馴的品種，除了獵食以外牠們不會輕易進行咬擊，因此比較不抗拒被人類舞弄。不過當牠們嗅到惡臭又或鼻端受到過份的刺激，牠們仍是會緊張地作出自衛。
女王蛇的天敵是鷹、浣熊、水獺、鼬等。比較巨型的蛙類及魚類亦會捕食幼小的女王蛇。不過對女王蛇最大的威脅是生活於被污染的下水道、渠道待位置，因為牠們的主要食物甲殼類動物對於污穢環境以及重金屬物質所產生的酸性相當敏感，這些生物可能會逃離這些區域，又或因受污染而死亡，這嚴重影響了女王蛇的生態。因此在一些地區中，女王蛇都成為了需要關注的物種。
女王蛇（學名：Regina septemvittata）是蛇亞目新蛇科下的一個無毒蛇種，主要分布於北美洲的紐約西部以至密西西比河東部一帶，與及威斯康辛、阿拉巴馬以及佛羅里達等州份。在安大略省西南部亦能找到牠們的蹤影。
