Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A water snake was caught today at the school that I teach at in Terrell Texas. I barely managed to save it from a death sentence. There have been alot of snakes showing up recently and none of them have been venemous. All of them have been killed by staff members except for this one. I'm pretty sure it is a Brazos water snake based on the following criteria.

Keeled scales
light brown dorsal color
longitudinal dark stripes on each side
two rows of scales between the chin shield scales
round pupils - vs. cat like eyes of pit vipers
divided anal plate
pink/ yellow bellow with black markings on the border

Pics to follow - Jose
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4.40 normal BPs
1.0 pastel BP
1.0 yellow belly BP
1.0 het albino BP
1.0 het pied BP
1.1 albino BPs
1.1 sunglow/anery corns
0.0.1 sunbeam
0.1 66% het stripe red tail boa
0.0.2 Strawberry hermit crabs
1.0 parakeet
1.0 spoiled rotten dog (Diego)
a crap load of rats and mice

Because N.Harteri is considered threatened, I have released it at a nearby creek. If this is N.Harteri then it is supposed to only be found only near the Brazos or its tributaries. Terrell is about 100 miles east of the Brazos' easternmost point (N33' W96'). I wonder if it got washed/blown here by all of the recent rains and tornadoes. Here are some pics. Could someone please verify the identity of this water snake? Thanks in advance.

Jose

I think etrrel is way to far from the range of the brazos water to be one, looks like a diamondback water snake to me, N. rhombifer rhombifer, but until i get home and look at a field guide i wont say for sure, I can't remeber how the belly should be marked and dont want to look it up. The other one i was thinking was brown, N. taxispilota, but I don't think thats it.

yes your correct it is a Diamondback water snake