What Kind of Snake Is Black With an Orange Belly?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 25, 2020

A black snake with an orange belly is most likely a ringneck snake. Ringneck snakes can vary in color, from tan to almost black, and they have a yellow or orange underbelly and a broken yellowish ring around the neck.

This snake is small at only about 10 to 15 inches in length. They are slender and smooth and have round pupils. Ringneck snakes are not dangerous to humans, but they do have a mild toxic venom in their saliva that they use to subdue their prey. Ringneck snakes eat earthworms, slugs, small lizards and snakes, insects, frogs, salamanders and newborn rodents. Ringneck snakes can live up to 20 years.