Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've noticed that when Ringnecks are captured they often secrete a clear liquid from their bellies... Basically, I was just wondering what this stuff is, where exactly it comes from, and if any other snakes do something like this. I'm reasonably certain it's a foul-smelling musk meant to deter predators, but I was wondering why Ringnecks do this instead of just voiding cloacal contents/musk from their vents like most other snakes. Do they have special glands on their bellies that make the liquid?

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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0 Banded California King
1.0 Mexican Black King
1.0 Goini Kingsnake
1.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
0.1 San Ignacio Rosy Boa
0.1 Ortiz Rosy Boa
2.3 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1 Saharan Sand Boa
1.2 Rubber Boas
0.1 Pickering's Gartersnake

Ringnecks produce musk from glands near the cloaca, just like other snakes. They often get it all over the place, though; they like to form the rear portion of the body into a loop and pass the front part through to smear the musk all over themselves.

That stuff is potent, too! Ringnecks are the only snakes I've ever had cause my eyes to water.

Just like the other person said...
They pretty much coil up and smear it all over themselves.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com

So they don't secrete anything from their bellies at all? I am just wondering because the droplets of liquid (the ones in the photo I posted) are so small and evenly spaced, it is difficult for me to imagine them being smeared on there.
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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0 Banded California King
1.0 Mexican Black King
1.0 Goini Kingsnake
1.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
0.1 San Ignacio Rosy Boa
0.1 Ortiz Rosy Boa
2.3 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1 Saharan Sand Boa
1.2 Rubber Boas
0.1 Pickering's Gartersnake

They're smearing it. These guys are champion muskers. As someone who enjoys catching these guys (and other snakes) in the fields, musk is the smell of success. Enjoy it.

Billy
-
Phillyherping

Awesome, I'll keep an eye out for it the next time I find a ringneck.
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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0 Banded California King
1.0 Mexican Black King
1.0 Goini Kingsnake
1.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
0.1 San Ignacio Rosy Boa
0.1 Ortiz Rosy Boa
2.3 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1 Saharan Sand Boa
1.2 Rubber Boas
0.1 Pickering's Gartersnake