25:
582:
118:
387:
95:
1098:
are often found in the exotic pet trade, throughout the United States, though they are rarely captive bred. Their relative physical plainness, compared to other available pet snake species, and their propensity to bite make them less than attractive pets to most people. They are easy to care for,
1133:), they are frequently mistaken for them. This results in many more water snakes being killed every year than cottonmouths. Often, water snakes found in areas where the cottonmouth does not range are still killed by humans out of ignorance and fear.
406:, breeding in the spring and giving birth in the late summer or early fall. They are capable of having 90 or more young, but broods generally are much smaller. Neonates are around 20–26 centimetres (8–10 in) in length.
333:
are largely aquatic. They spend the vast majority of their time in or very near permanent sources of water. Often, they can be found basking on tree branches that overhang slow-moving streams or ponds.
295:
vary greatly, but all are relatively heavy-bodied snakes, sometimes growing to 1.2 m (4 feet) or longer in total length (including tail). They have flattened heads, with small eyes that have round
321:
have diamond-shaped patterning. Most species are brown or olive green, or some combination thereof with markings being brown, or black. Yellow or cream-colored accenting is common.
989:– Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama, as well as south into Mexico (Coahuila, Nuevo León,
1560:
1127:
species hold no specific conservation status. Due to their habitat choice, defensive disposition, and vague similarity to the venomous cottonmouth (
370:
readily defend themselves if they are unable to escape. They do not often hesitate to strike or bite if handled, and often expel a foul-smelling
1555:
1468:
1212:
1206:
1340:
965:– Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Missouri, and Illinois
1550:
1429:
1455:
1192:
1311:. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). (Genus
1460:
1188:
1325:
1272:
484:
68:
46:
1021:, Illinois, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky,
39:
1517:
570:
1473:
238:
Clonophis, Coluber, Ischnognathus, Natrix, Regina, Storeria, Tropidoclonion, Tropidonothus, Tropidonotus, Vipera
555:
628:
1260:
1229:
523:
433:
220:
1243:
1234:
Catalogue of North
American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpents
770:
703:
350:, and they are quite adept at catching both in their aquatic environment. They will also consume small
1522:
1304:
1153:
748:
117:
33:
1225:
510:
442:
429:
216:
1123:
are only found in very isolated localities and are protected by state laws, but the majority of
1499:
1356:
1282:
1175:
1129:
661:
646:
50:
1565:
1509:
1494:
1265:
A Field Guide to
Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition
1119:
977:
905:
786:
673:
504:
311:
1486:
1416:
1286:
1094:
Due to how widespread and extremely common they are in the wild, water snakes of the genus
887:
8:
1300:
1149:
1081:
917:, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina,
780:
468:
667:
612:
229:
112:
492:
1481:
1403:
1394:
1268:
985:
866:
792:
688:
640:
498:
478:
391:
317:
103:
1545:
1408:
1034:
961:
823:
679:
593:
581:
456:
305:
1236:. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xvi + 172 pp. (Genus
366:
While their initial instinct is to flee when disturbed, water snakes of the genus
1113:
1001:
969:
835:
729:
655:
423:
1379:
918:
891:
840:
488:
1539:
1050:
1042:
1022:
807:
599:
300:
274:
954:
1054:
1030:
806:
species are widely spread throughout the southern and eastern half of the
1442:
1388:
1085:– Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia
1058:
852:
262:
1434:
1062:
990:
415:
403:
278:
256:
199:
189:
1447:
1018:
1014:
946:
895:
848:
386:
347:
129:
1350:
1246:(1938). "A Synopsis of the North American Water Snakes of the Genus
94:
1373:
1345:
1074:
1070:
1066:
1026:
1010:
1006:
994:
950:
938:
930:
910:
899:
879:
875:
871:
169:
149:
1421:
1038:
942:
922:
883:
844:
351:
292:
270:
159:
1215:
Species account from the Iowa
Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide
1209:
Species account from the Iowa
Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide
914:
815:
811:
375:
355:
139:
329:
As the common name water snakes implies, species in the genus
1165:
ITIS (Integrated
Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
1046:
856:
296:
259:
252:
179:
934:
926:
860:
819:
371:
826:
of subspecies is not unknown, but is rare. Two species of
1334:
Water Snakes - diet, life-cycle, habitats and sub-species
1333:
1168:
269:
due to their aquatic behavior. The genus includes nine
1293:. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. xiii + 365 pp. (Genus
309:
display distinct banding, whereas other species, like
1291:
Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada
1309:Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada
1537:
1013:, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas,
1267:. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp.
1213:Diamondback Watersnake - Nerodia rhombifer
798:
93:
409:
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
1176:"California Nerodia Watch - iNaturalist"
1102:
1099:though, and do quite well in captivity.
580:
562:– copperbelly water snake or copperbelly
385:
32:This article includes a list of general
1193:Integrated Taxonomic Information System
395:, diamondback water snake, giving birth
1538:
277:. Five of the species have recognized
1561:Taxa named by Charles Frédéric Girard
1556:Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird
1355:
1354:
18:
13:
1219:
830:are invasive in the southwest US.
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
1577:
1319:
315:, have blotching, and those like
1551:Extant Miocene first appearances
116:
23:
1089:
418:are recognized as being valid:
381:
1159:
1143:
818:, as well as to the island of
284:
1:
1136:
7:
822:. Many ranges overlap, and
324:
10:
1582:
695:– diamondback water snake
651:– Florida green watersnake
447:(Baird & Girard, 1853)
361:
107:, diamondback water snake
1363:
743:(Conant & Clay, 1937)
515:– plainbelly water snake
235:
228:
113:Scientific classification
111:
101:
92:
85:
1077:, and north into Canada
799:Geographic distribution
337:
53:more precise citations.
1326:Animal Diversity Web:
1130:Agkistrodon piscivorus
588:
575:– blotched water snake
410:Species and subspecies
396:
358:that live near water.
1495:Paleobiology Database
1103:Conservation concerns
736:– common water snake
674:Nerodia paucimaculata
604:– banded water snake
584:
505:Nerodia erythrogaster
389:
1346:The Reptile Database
1297:, pp. 205–206).
1275:(paperback). (Genus
1207:Northern Water Snake
973:– west-central Texas
870:– Texas, Louisiana,
766:N. s. williamengelsi
684:– Concho water snake
452:N. c. compressicauda
346:species is fish and
342:The primary diet of
781:Nerodia taxispilota
682:& Conant, 1961)
539:N. e. erythrogaster
438:– salt marsh snake
668:Brazos water snake
629:N. f. pictiventris
589:
414:These species and
397:
1533:
1532:
1482:Open Tree of Life
1357:Taxon identifiers
1111:species, such as
1029:, Indiana, Ohio,
941:and into Mexico (
793:brown water snake
790:
774:
762:
754:
744:
735:
723:
715:
714:(Hallowell, 1852)
707:
699:N. r. blanchardi
694:
693:(Hallowell, 1852)
689:Nerodia rhombifer
683:
665:
641:Nerodia floridana
634:
624:
616:
603:
574:
566:N. e. transversa
561:
551:
547:N. e. flavigaster
543:
535:
527:
514:
499:green water snake
496:
479:Nerodia cyclopion
472:
460:
448:
437:
392:Nerodia rhombifer
244:
243:
224:
104:Nerodia rhombifer
79:
78:
71:
16:Genus of reptiles
1573:
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1503:
1502:
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1451:
1450:
1438:
1437:
1425:
1424:
1412:
1411:
1399:
1398:
1397:
1384:
1383:
1382:
1352:
1351:
1203:
1201:
1199:
1180:
1179:
1172:
1166:
1163:
1157:
1147:
1120:N. paucimaculata
978:N. paucimaculata
906:N. erythrogaster
784:
768:
761:(Linnaeus, 1758)
760:
752:
742:
740:N. s. insularum
734:(Linnaeus, 1758)
733:
721:
713:
711:N. r. rhombifer
701:
692:
677:
659:
650:
632:
623:(Linnaeus, 1766)
622:
610:
597:
594:Nerodia fasciata
586:N. e. transversa
568:
559:
549:
541:
533:
521:
508:
482:
466:
454:
446:
427:
312:N. erythrogaster
273:, all native to
215:
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63:
60:
54:
49:this article by
40:inline citations
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1328:Nerodia sipedon
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1315:, p. 467).
1279:, p. 139).
1222:
1220:Further reading
1197:
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1139:
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1092:
981:– Central Texas
882:, Mississippi,
814:and south into
801:
749:N. s. pleuralis
730:Nerodia sipedon
656:Nerodia harteri
644:
608:N. f. confluens
542:(Forster, 1771)
464:N. c. taeniata
424:Nerodia clarkii
412:
384:
364:
340:
327:
303:. Species like
287:
265:referred to as
255:of nonvenomous
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45:Please help to
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1082:N. taxispilota
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919:North Carolina
902:
892:South Carolina
863:
841:Gulf of Mexico
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769:(Conant &
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758:N. s. sipedon
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722:(Conant, 1953)
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652:
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617:
579:
578:
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563:
560:(Conant, 1949)
556:N. e. neglecta
552:
550:(Conant, 1949)
544:
536:
534:(Conant, 1953)
528:
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493:A.H.A. Duméril
485:A.M.C. Duméril
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1283:Schmidt, K.P.
1281:
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1273:0-395-19977-8
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1257:(4): 173–182.
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1051:Massachusetts
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1023:West Virginia
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869:
868:
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854:
850:
846:
842:
839:– around the
838:
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832:
831:
829:
825:
821:
817:
813:
810:, north into
809:
808:United States
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794:
788:
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764:
759:
756:
751:
750:
746:
741:
738:
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732:
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720:
719:N. r. werleri
717:
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671:
669:
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653:
648:
643:
642:
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631:
630:
626:
621:
620:N. f.fasciata
618:
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595:
591:
590:
587:
583:
572:
567:
564:
558:
557:
553:
548:
545:
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537:
532:
531:N. e. bogerti
529:
525:
520:
517:
516:
512:
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494:
490:
486:
481:
480:
476:
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462:
458:
453:
450:
445:
444:
443:N. c. clarkii
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314:
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302:
301:dorsal scales
299:, and keeled
298:
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275:North America
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1566:Snake genera
1364:
1339:
1327:
1312:
1308:
1301:Wright, A.H.
1294:
1290:
1276:
1264:
1254:
1251:
1247:
1237:
1233:
1196:. Retrieved
1170:
1161:
1150:Wright, A.H.
1145:
1128:
1124:
1118:
1112:
1108:
1106:
1095:
1093:
1090:In captivity
1080:
1055:Rhode Island
1031:Pennsylvania
1000:
986:N. rhombifer
984:
976:
968:
960:
921:, Illinois,
904:
867:N. cyclopion
865:
834:
827:
824:intergrading
803:
802:
779:
765:
757:
753:(Cope, 1892)
747:
739:
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687:
672:
654:
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633:(Cope, 1895)
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477:
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451:
441:
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413:
402:species are
399:
398:
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382:Reproduction
367:
365:
343:
341:
330:
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318:N. rhombifer
316:
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267:water snakes
266:
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210:
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102:
86:
80:
65:
56:
37:
1443:iNaturalist
1389:Wikispecies
1305:A.A. Wright
1230:C.F. Girard
1226:Baird, S.F.
1154:A.A. Wright
1059:Connecticut
962:N. fasciata
890:, Florida,
853:Mississippi
374:from their
306:N. fasciata
285:Description
196:Subfamily:
51:introducing
1540:Categories
1287:D.D. Davis
1261:Conant, R.
1244:Clay, W.M.
1137:References
1114:N. harteri
1063:New Jersey
1002:N. sipedon
991:Tamaulipas
970:N. harteri
955:Nuevo León
836:N. clarkii
519:N. e. alta
416:subspecies
404:viviparous
348:amphibians
279:subspecies
200:Natricinae
190:Colubridae
176:Suborder:
59:April 2014
34:references
1189:"Nerodia"
1019:Wisconsin
1015:Minnesota
947:Zacatecas
909:– Texas,
896:Tennessee
849:Louisiana
613:Blanchard
571:Hallowell
457:Kennicott
180:Serpentes
136:Kingdom:
130:Eukaryota
1422:46559525
1380:Q2704281
1374:Wikidata
1307:(1957).
1289:(1941).
1263:(1975).
1232:(1853).
1075:Michigan
1071:Maryland
1067:Delaware
1035:New York
1027:Virginia
1011:Nebraska
1007:Colorado
995:Veracruz
951:Coahuila
939:Delaware
931:Michigan
911:Oklahoma
900:Kentucky
880:Illinois
876:Missouri
872:Arkansas
787:Holbrook
600:Linnaeus
352:reptiles
325:Behavior
263:commonly
257:colubrid
230:Synonyms
186:Family:
170:Squamata
160:Reptilia
150:Chordata
146:Phylum:
140:Animalia
126:Domain:
1546:Nerodia
1510:4255465
1435:2454456
1395:Nerodia
1365:Nerodia
1341:Nerodia
1238:Nerodia
1156:(1957).
1125:Nerodia
1109:Nerodia
1096:Nerodia
1039:Vermont
943:Durango
923:Indiana
888:Georgia
884:Alabama
845:Florida
828:Nerodia
804:Nerodia
789:, 1842)
773:, 1973)
706:, 1938)
664:, 1941)
662:Trapido
649:, 1936)
615:, 1923)
602:, 1766)
573:, 1852)
526:, 1963)
513:, 1771)
511:Forster
495:, 1854)
471:, 1859)
459:, 1860)
436:, 1853)
400:Nerodia
376:cloacae
368:Nerodia
362:Defense
356:rodents
344:Nerodia
331:Nerodia
293:species
290:Nerodia
271:species
248:Nerodia
211:Nerodia
206:Genus:
166:Order:
156:Class:
87:Nerodia
47:improve
1523:343618
1507:uBio:
1487:405964
1461:174241
1338:Genus
1313:Natrix
1303:, and
1295:Natrix
1285:, and
1277:Natrix
1271:
1252:Copeia
1248:Natrix
1228:, and
1198:12 May
1152:, and
993:, and
953:, and
915:Kansas
898:, and
859:) and
816:Mexico
812:Canada
771:Lazell
680:Tinkle
524:Conant
491:&
489:Bibron
434:Girard
432:&
297:pupils
260:snakes
223:, 1853
221:Girard
219:&
36:, but
1518:WoRMS
1500:38141
1448:29299
1409:63FHX
1107:Some
1047:Maine
857:Texas
430:Baird
253:genus
251:is a
217:Baird
1474:8591
1469:NCBI
1456:ITIS
1430:GBIF
1269:ISBN
1255:1938
1200:2006
1117:and
935:Iowa
927:Ohio
861:Cuba
820:Cuba
704:Clay
647:Goff
469:Cope
372:musk
354:and
338:Diet
1417:EoL
1404:CoL
1344:at
1250:".
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1520::
1497::
1484::
1471::
1458::
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1065:,
1061:,
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1053:,
1049:,
1045:,
1041:,
1037:,
1033:,
1025:,
1017:,
1009:,
1005:–
949:,
945:,
937:,
933:,
929:,
925:,
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894:,
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855:,
851:,
847:,
791:–
666:–
497:–
487:,
378:.
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