Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, i posted this pic in another forum along with a copperhead, but no one confirmed that it was a watersnake. Can anyone tell me what it is? Sorry the quality isnt that great.

Thanks,
Jason

It always helps to also mention exactly where in the country the snakes were found(state,county, etc..), this helps to nail-down exact subspecies better.

It is without question just a harmless watersnake though, probably a Banded Water Snake(Nerodia f. fasciata).

Is it dead?,....it looks like it's possibly already been mis-"identified" and sentenced, as water snakes many times are.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

This specimen was found during a night road cruise in Eastern North Carolina in the Croatan National Forest. He was dead....possibly the victim of a car or truck. There were many others around, but they were too quick to capture on film. I also saw two copperheads. I only drove through the woods for about 20 miutes. We had had a good rain the day before, so I thik that helped bring the herps out.

I plan on doing it again this weekend, it was quite fun.

Thanks for the ID Doug.

You're welcome!,....yes, definitely a Banded Water Snake then. They can vary in looks considerably as well, sometimes making ID a little difficult. But now that you have given the locality on it, it leaves no doubt as to what ssp. it truly is.

Have fun on your next adventure out there!

~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

My guess would be northern watersnake! Jeffth

Hi Jeff!,....yes, actually it could just as easily be A Northern as well, or even a Northern/Banded intergrade. In that area, there is pure forms of both, as well as intergrades. Same thing where I'm from,...so much different geneflow they can be almost any combination of either one from one area to the next..LOL!

In any case though, he now knows it's a harmless water snake, and nothing venomous. As you know, to many folks that would represent a definite cottonmouth, as they look very similar, especially when young.

take care, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Well don't young cottonmouths have the bright green/yellow tails thogh. That's what i usually look for when i see small snakes I think cold be cottonmouths or watersnakes.

Yes, juvenile cottonmouths(A.piscivorous) have the "caudal lure" you mentioned for attracting frogs, lizards, etc..

Those tend to fade away with age though. The pic you posted is one of the two water snakes mentioned, or even very possibly an intergrade as well.....really tough to say in that particular area.

take care!, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Not much I can add, as Doug has done his usual stellar job. One thing..while the young watersnakes might be confused with a young cottonmouth, if you pay attention to the girth, i.d. should not be hard. A neonate cottonmouth is thicker than a yearling Nerodia. Also, while the patterns of the two are similar (though not alike), the colors are definitely different. The young cottonmouth can easily be mistaken for a copperhead, & rightfully so, as they are very closely related.

~~Greg~~
Venomous Snakes of Florida

Thanks for the kind words, Greg!

and ditto what you said too!

Oh, are you going to the Daytona show??, if so. it would be cool to say hello. I'll be there both days

take care, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"