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591:—all non-native species too. In 1996 a contract was awarded to a wildlife control company to cull the snake population. Just when the control effort began in late 1997, dead watersnakes and turtles were observed in large numbers. The precise cause of the die-off is unknown, but a respiratory tract fungus was found in dissected snakes. A cause for the outbreak might have been an abnormally wet and cold
464:
When foraging for food the diamondback water snake will hang on branches suspended over the water, dipping its head under the surface of the water, until it encounters a fish or other prey. It is frequently found basking on branches over water, and when approached, it will quickly drop into the water
473:
in its saliva that causes increased bleeding. This snake is not considered venomous due to the very small amount of toxins in its bite, as well as the toxin not being injected through the teeth, but entering the bite wound from the snake's saliva. This defensive behavior is frequently misinterpreted
612:. Adults breed in the spring, and gravid females give birth in the late summer or early fall. Neonates are around 8–10 in (20–25 cm) in length. Though its range overlaps with several other species of water snakes, interbreeding is not known.
583:. It was first observed in the late 1980s and had reached high densities in the early 1990s, causing fisherman and other visitors to complain as they believed that the snakes were eating the reservoir's fish, frogs and, turtles—mostly stocked fish,
400:
net-like pattern along the back, with each spot being vaguely diamond-shaped. Dark vertical bars and lighter coloring are often present down the sides of the snake. In typical counter-colored fashion, the underside is generally a
465:
and swim away. If cornered, it will often hiss, and flatten the head and body to appear larger. It only typically resorts to biting if physically harassed or handled. Its bite is known to be quite painful due to its sharp
595:
weather system. There have been no confirmed observations of watersnakes at
Lafayette Reservoir since late 1999, but sightings are occasionally reported, and the population may still continue to present in low numbers.
640:
and is killed out of fear. In actuality, the diamondback water snake and other species of water snakes are far more common than the venomous snakes in their range, especially in areas that are frequented by humans.
649:
Due to how common the species is, the diamondback water snake is frequently found in captivity in states where it is legal to keep native reptiles in captivity, though there is little market value for it in the
658:
when handled, which has a particularly offensive smell, probably due to the diet of mostly fish. It eats quite well in captivity if fed primarily fish but must be supplemented with vitamin B
1256:
227:
214:
240:
1399:
440:
The diamondback water snake is one of the most common species of snake within its range. It is found predominantly near slow-moving bodies of water such as
220:
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484:), with which it does share habitat in some places. The brown/tan coloration and diamond-shaped pattern also causes it to be mistaken for
419:
Adult males have multiple papillae (tubercles) on the under surface of the chin, which are not found on any other species of snake in the
948:(With 108 drawings by Edmond Malnate). New York and London: D. Appleton-Century. Frontispiece map + viii + 163 pp. + Plates A-C, 1-32. (
429:
grows to an average total length (including tail) of 76–122 cm (30–48 inches). The record total length is 180 cm (69 inches).
1389:
412:
are heavily keeled, giving the snake a rough texture. The dorsal scales are arranged in 25 or 27 rows at midbody. There are usually 3
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trade. Captive specimens will often bite when captured but become fairly docile with regular handling. It may also
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Neonates are often lighter in color, making their patterns more pronounced, and they darken with age.
76:
353:
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946:
What Snake Is That? A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky
Mountains.
707:
1191:
1155:
1051:
990:
633:
480:
813:
A Field Guide to
Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition.
781:
A Field Guide to
Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition.
1266:
181:
1243:
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1111:
955:
545:
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The diamondback water snake is found in the central United States, predominantly along the
8:
1004:
732:. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (
576:
572:
280:
41:
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Boston and New York: Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 Plates, 207 Figures.
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962:. (Foreword by Roger Conant). Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. 496 pp.
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976:(1852). "Descriptions of new species of reptiles inhabiting North America".
557:
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843:
CaliforniaHerps.com — A Guide to the
Amphibians and Reptiles of California
632:
is human ignorance. The diamondback water snake is often mistaken for the
500:
valley, but its range extends beyond that. It ranges within the states of
1199:
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The
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians
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as aggression and often leads to its being mistaken for the
753:
Reptiles of North
America: A Guide to Field Identification.
513:
469:
meant to keep hold of slippery fish, as well as the slight
449:
1011:. Ithaca and London: Comstock. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). (
839:"Alien Reptiles and Amphibians Introduced Into California"
783:
Boston: Houghton
Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-47.
651:
873:. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp., 657 color plates.
552:. It is also found in northern Mexico, in the states of
730:
A Check List of North
American Amphibians and Reptiles
744:
742:
995:
Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada
405:
or lighter brown color, often with black blotching.
1009:Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada
739:
683:Hammerson GA, Lavin P, Mendoza Quijano F (2007).
1361:
902:Clay WM (1938). "A new water snake of the genus
1400:Taxa named by Edward Hallowell (herpetologist)
960:North American Water Snakes: A Natural History
926:(1953). "Three new water snakes of the genus
388:The diamondback water snake is predominantly
708:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63856A12722606.en
367:
836:
795:, p. 142, Figure 34 + Plate 21 + Map 104).
50:
31:
997:. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (
706:
1015:, pp. 500–504, Figure 147, Map 41.)
615:
608:species, the diamondback water snake is
358:
304:
1362:
827:, pp. 419-420, Figure 191 + Plate 41).
662:. Larger specimens will often consume
1050:
1049:
952:, p. 96 + Plate 17, figure 48).
1370:IUCN Red List least concern species
694:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
676:
491:
372:The species was first described as
13:
978:Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia
860:
571:This snake has been introduced to
14:
1411:
1390:Extant Cenozoic first appearances
1042:, Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa
1019:
755:New York: Golden Press. 240 pp.
75:
892:as observed at Reelfoot Lake".
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830:
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1:
1385:Reptiles of the United States
941:, new subspecies, p. 4).
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344:. There are three recognized
1013:Natrix rhombifera rhombifera
999:Natrix rhombifera rhombifera
987:, new species, p. 177).
950:Natrix rhombifera rhombifera
944:Conant R, Bridges W (1939).
918:Natrix rhombifera blanchardi
793:Natrix rhombifera rhombifera
392:, dark brown, or dark olive
7:
932:Natural History Miscellanea
894:Journ. Tennessee Acad. Sci.
888:Cagle FR (1937). "Notes on
885:, pp. 636-637 + Plate 574).
459:
10:
1416:
1395:Reptiles described in 1852
435:
1290:
1058:
939:Natrix rhombifera werleri
837:Nafis, Gary (2000–2017).
262:
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211:
206:
187:
180:
72:Scientific classification
70:
48:
39:
30:
23:
368:Taxonomy and systematics
354:nominotypical subspecies
318:, commonly known as the
1040:Diamondback Water Snake
751:, Brodie ED Jr (1982).
320:diamondback water snake
1292:Tropidonotus rhombifer
985:Tropidonotus rhombifer
481:Agkistrodon piscivorus
374:Tropidonotus rhombifer
364:
310:
266:Tropidonotus rhombifer
701:: e.T63856A12722606.
628:, the main threat to
616:Conservation concerns
362:
308:
1033:The Reptile Database
1007:, Wright AA (1957).
958:, Dorcas ME (2004).
993:, Davis DD (1941).
577:Contra Costa County
573:Lafayette Reservoir
363:Female giving birth
42:Conservation status
1380:Reptiles of Mexico
920:, new subspecies).
883:Nerodia rhombifera
869:, King FW (1979).
765:Nerodia rhombifera
687:Nerodia rhombifer
585:American bullfrogs
365:
311:
296:& Brodie, 1982
288:Nerodia rhombifera
1357:
1356:
1239:Open Tree of Life
1090:Nerodia rhombifer
1060:Nerodia rhombifer
1052:Taxon identifiers
1028:Nerodia rhombifer
890:Natrix rhombifera
825:Nerodia rhombifer
734:Natrix rhombifera
589:red-eared sliders
498:Mississippi River
427:Nerodia rhombifer
396:in color, with a
315:Nerodia rhombifer
303:
302:
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284:
275:Natrix rhombifera
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191:Nerodia rhombifer
173:N. rhombifer
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492:Geographic range
378:Edward Hallowell
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846:. Retrieved
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800:
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645:In captivity
638:rattlesnakes
630:N. rhombifer
629:
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600:Reproduction
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486:rattlesnakes
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350:N. rhombifer
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1200:NatureServe
1138:iNaturalist
1084:Wikispecies
974:Hallowell E
848:30 November
722:Stejneger L
634:cottonmouth
604:Like other
542:Mississippi
414:postoculars
384:Description
207:Subspecies
1364:Categories
1307:Q107333340
991:Schmidt KP
956:Gibbons JW
899:: 179-185.
809:Collins JT
670:References
626:threatened
622:endangered
620:While not
581:California
562:Tamaulipas
558:Nuevo León
346:subspecies
294:H.M. Smith
149:Colubridae
135:Suborder:
1257:rhombifer
1005:Wright AH
867:Behler JL
736:, p. 95).
726:Barbour T
538:Tennessee
518:Louisiana
471:hemotoxin
380:in 1852.
328:natricine
234:Hallowell
199:Hallowell
167:Species:
139:Serpentes
95:Kingdom:
89:Eukaryota
1301:Wikidata
1205:2.100750
1156:10959095
1075:Q3024773
1069:Wikidata
1025:Species
937:: 1-9. (
924:Conant R
811:(2016).
805:Powell R
779:(1975).
777:Conant R
749:Smith HM
728:(1917).
656:defecate
566:Veracruz
554:Coahuila
530:Illinois
526:Missouri
522:Arkansas
506:Oklahoma
476:venomous
460:Behavior
331:colubrid
292:—
279:—
257:Synonyms
145:Family:
129:Squamata
119:Reptilia
109:Chordata
105:Phylum:
99:Animalia
85:Domain:
62:IUCN 3.1
1375:Nerodia
1347:1425015
1321:5223343
1280:1425014
1267:8052111
1130:5223342
664:rodents
606:Nerodia
593:El Niño
550:Alabama
546:Georgia
534:Indiana
442:streams
436:Habitat
334:endemic
324:species
322:, is a
249:, 1953)
236:, 1852)
223:, 1938)
201:, 1852)
160:Nerodia
155:Genus:
125:Order:
115:Class:
60: (
1334:209357
1264:uBio:
1244:505612
1231:101649
1218:183610
1169:563904
1117:458709
966:
928:Natrix
904:Natrix
877:
819:
787:
759:
587:, and
564:, and
548:, and
510:Kansas
454:swamps
446:rivers
403:yellow
342:Mexico
283:, 1889
247:Conant
1342:WoRMS
1275:WoRMS
1189:NAS:
1182:63856
1151:IRMNG
1143:29310
1104:476BS
502:Texas
467:teeth
452:, or
450:ponds
398:black
394:green
390:brown
309:Adult
1329:ITIS
1316:GBIF
1213:NCBI
1192:2577
1177:IUCN
1164:ITIS
1125:GBIF
964:ISBN
875:ISBN
850:2017
817:ISBN
785:ISBN
757:ISBN
699:2007
514:Iowa
408:The
281:Cope
221:Clay
1112:EoL
1099:CoL
1031:at
935:126
881:. (
763:. (
703:doi
652:pet
636:or
624:or
575:in
376:by
356:.
348:of
1366::
1344::
1331::
1318::
1303::
1277::
1254::
1252:RD
1241::
1228::
1215::
1202::
1179::
1166::
1153::
1140::
1127::
1114::
1101::
1086::
1071::
914:27
897:12
841:.
741:^
724:,
697:.
691:.
666:.
579:,
568:.
560:,
556:,
544:,
540:,
536:,
532:,
528:,
524:,
520:,
516:,
512:,
508:,
504:,
456:.
448:,
444:,
423:.
416:.
981:6
970:.
852:.
711:.
705::
689:"
685:"
660:1
245:(
232:(
219:(
197:(
64:)
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