I don't know if its just me, but the pattern on this Midland Water Snake sure does look strange. It was caught in Montgomery Alabama. What do you think?
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Odd Pattern on Midland Water
SalS
Oct 15, 2003 10:10 PM
Replies (4)
PiersonH
Oct 16, 2003 12:02 AM
Looks fairly normal for an Alabama pleuralis to me. I haven't seen one with that kind of coloration before but that is well within the range of their standard variation. What did you think was strange? Maybe I'm not looking at the right thing.
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Pierson Hill
Herpetology and Herpetoculture
Justin Stricklin
Oct 16, 2003 07:55 PM
I have one that looks almost identical to that one. Are you from montegumery too?
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Justin
SalS
Oct 23, 2003 10:04 PM
The lateral markings extent to some the ventral scutes.
PiersonH
Oct 24, 2003 07:16 AM
That's a fairly typical looking Midland Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis), although a bit yellower than I've seen in the past. Banded Watersnakes (Nerodia fasciata) never have a spotted pattern and usually have light stripes running from the nostril, through the eye, and down to the corner of the jaw. They also have narrower heads with larger eyes compared with sipedon. It takes some experience to identify some of the Nerodia but I'm 99% sure your snake is a sipdeon.
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Pierson Hill
Herpetology and Herpetoculture
