Using various internet references and Conant's Field Guide I eliminated this possibility. The dorsal and belly pattern are definitively different between my snake and Nerodia harteri. After oft repeated attempts I have not been able to find a good match with any N. American Water Snakes. The closest and most probable ID is the European Dice Snake. The pattern is definitive as is the behavior but my research on that species says they are not known to eat mice like the closely related Grass and Viperine Snakes. Mine readily takes unscented f/t mice. This fact is not enough to eliminate the ID in my opinion. The Grass Snakes are variable in pattern and that is still a possibility. I have also considered a captive hybrid between a Grass and a Dice Snake as a potential ID. My primary source of information on these has been Reptiles and Amphibians of Europe by E. Nicholas Arnold and Denys W. Ovenden.

Dice Snake – Natrix tessellate (probable ID)

Grass Snake – Natrix natrix (possible ID)

Viperine Snake – Natrix maura (doubtful ID)
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Randy Hallman
Firehouse Herps

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