![]() Water snakes secrete a musky substance from glands near the tail, which they expel if they are threatened and will also defecate or vomit when threatened. They hibernate during winter and become social before and after hibernation. Water snakes are solitary animals and primary diurnal but can hunt at night. They will often stay on tree branches above water and, when they are disturbed, will drop into the water. They will become aggressive when approached, even if they are not being handled. However, they will never stray far from the water source.Įven though water snakes are harmless, they can be aggressive. They spend a lot of time swimming or basking in shallows and swimming, but will also go onto land and climb trees. A few water snake species are found in California, Iowa, and Illinois. Water snakes are found near wetlands, lakes, rivers, and marshlands in Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Water snakes are ovoviviparous, which means eggs incubate inside the mother’s body. Typically, water snakes grow long the northern water snake measures 5 feet long, while other species measure 3 feet.įemales breed annually and can give birth to 20 live snakes. The scales on water snakes are keeled along the back, and their pupils are round.įemales grow faster, are longer, and weigh more than males. When water snakes are wet and in water, they can appear solid black or brown. They are primarily gray, brown, reddish, olive green with dark blotches or bands on their backs. The colors and markings of water snakes vary from species to species. Getting close enough to identify that feature might be dangerous, so it is better to stay clear of snakes no matter what the type. Water moccasins have heat-sensitive pits on their faces, while water snakes don’t. Water moccasins have heavy stocky heads and thick bodies with a distinctive neck, a rounder narrow head with a long slender body, and a less prominent neck. To identify the two species apart, look at their necks and heads. The similarity between the two snakes might be an evolutionary adaptation of the water snakes to avoid predators. Water moccasins (Viperidae) and water snakes (Colubridae) are from two different families but look the same. People unable to tell the two species apart often kill harmless water snakes, thinking they are water moccasins snakes. Water moccasins are dangerous with a venomous bite. Sometimes water snakes are confused with cottonmouths/water moccasin snakes. Water snakes are non-venomous snakes found in the US that typically live around water. Salt Marsh water snake – Nerodia clarkii (with three subspecies).Northern water snake – Nerodia sipedon (with four subspecies).Southern water snake – Nerodia fasciata (with three subspecies).Plain-bellied water snake – Nerodia erythrogaster (with four subspecies).Harter’s water snake / Brazos River snake – Nerodia harteri.Florida Green water snake – Nerodia floridana.Diamondback water snake – Nerodia rhombifer.Brown water snake – Nerodia taxispilota.Here listed are the ten species of water snakes. Water snakes are of the subfamily Natricinae and are closely related to Garter snakes. The most frequently encountered and most widespread snakes in the United States are Garter snakes and Water snakes. Northern water snake – Nerodia sipedon.Plain-bellied water snake – Nerodia erythrogaster.Mississippi Green water snake – Nerodia cyclopion.Harter’s Water Snake / Brazos River Snake – Nerodia harteri.Concho water snake – Nerodia paucimaculata.Southern Water Snake – Nerodia fasciata.Florida Green Water Snake – Nerodia floridana.Saltmarsh Water Snake – Nerodia clarkii.Brown Water Snake – Nerodia taxispilota.Here we discuss everything you need to know about water snakes and how to identify them when encountering one. Water snakes are found abundantly in the US, living near rivers, marshlands, and lakes. They are Brown water snake, Concho, Diamondback, Florida Green, Harter’s, Mississippi Green, Plain-bellied, Southern, Northern, and Salt Marsh water snakes. There are ten species of water snakes listed in the United States. Water snakes are nonvenomous harmless native snakes that live in wetlands. But just how do you identify them, and how many types of water snakes are there? Water snakes are found in and around water bodies or wetlands in the United States.
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