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Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata fasciata)
Southern Water Snake Photograph by Public Health Image Library (PHIL). License: Public Domain. (view image details)
BANDED WATER SNAKE FACTS
DescriptionThe Banded Water Snake is a stocky snake with black, brown, or red crossbands across the back. The background color varies from gray, yellow, tan, or reddish. The underside is pale with roughly square shaped spots. The snake may darken, and crossbands become more like the background color with age. There is a dark stripe from the eye to the angle of the jaw. Juveniles have prominent dark crossbands on a pale background. It is mainly active at night, but may be seen during the day sunning itself on banks or vegetation overhanging the water. Other Names Southern Water Snake Size length 60cm - 105cm. Can grow to 150cm. Environment freshwater ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, marshes. Food eats fish, frogs, salamanders, crayfish, tadpoles. Breeding The Banded Water Snake bears 20 - 30 live young. The young are born in summer and are 19cm - 24cm long. Range Florida panhandle to North Carolina and west to south west parts of Alabama. Notes The Banded Water Snake is harmless, although when threatened it will bite readily and excrete a foul smelling musk. Classification
Relatives in same Genus Mangrove Salt Marsh Snake (N. clarkii compressicauda) Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake (N. clarkii taeniata) Redbelly Water Snake (N. erythrogaster erythrogaster.) Florida Banded Water Snake (N. fasciata pictiventris) Diamondback Water Snake (N. rhombifer) Northern Water Snake (N. sipedon) Home | Mammals | Reptiles | Birds | Insects | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us |