Diadophis

Diadophis is a genus of small, harmless snakes, family Colubridae, monotypic, with the ring-necked snake, also called the ringneck snake, Diadophis punctatus, as its only species. Found across much of the United States, south into central Mexico and as far north as Nova Scotia, Canada, the species is generally fossorial and secretive, nocturnal, and rarely seen during the daytime, and is thought to be fairly abundant though its population lacks scientific verification. It is perhaps best known for its unique defensive posture, in which it curls its tail into a tight coil, partially rolls onto its back and shows its bright red-orange underside, a vivid warning-color display used by a non-venomous species to deceive predators; 14 subspecies are currently recognized, though many herpetologists question these morphologically based classifications, and the species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.