Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What kind? Chattahoochie river

That is a very nice example of the Midland Water snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis). Many can be much darker than that individual.

Here is another one that looks extremely similar to yours.

cheers, ~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

This is another similar-looking (although a bit darker red)Midland Water Snake that was also found in the eastern Alabama/western Georgia area.

cheers, ~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

this one in Hartselle, alabama

Hard to say with absolute certainty from that distance, but that looks to be a more "unicolored", more patternless Water Snake as well. If I could see the head closer it would definitely be more conclusive. Quite often, especially when much older, it's not uncommon for some water snakes to become very dull and their patterns can sometimes be extremely obscured and dificult to make out.

It could also be a Brown Water Snake (Nerodia taxispilota) with a much more obscured pattern as they typically have darker square blotches dorsally. They range up in that area too.

Oddly enough, here is a very young Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipendon) that displays very little pattern right from the start. These are also found in that area you mentioned. Harmless water snakes can sometimes vary drastically in their patterns (or sometimes even lack thereof).

Anyway, it looks like a harmless Water Snake (Nerodia ssp.) and not a moccasin to me from that distant pic. Thanks for posting those snakes..

Cheers, ~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Doug is, as usual, correct about it being Nerodia. One possibility, aside from what he said, is that the snake has dried mud on it that obscures the markings. Finding a cottonmouth like that, without seeing the head, can get a snake collector in trouble.

~~Greg~~

That is great additional input. I guarantee that has happened many times as they have crawled out of muddy water and muddy banks.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

To me, the tail on this snake appears too long for it to be a cottonmouth and the body shape seems more consistent with Nerodia, but I wouldn't want to say I was sure without a closer look at the head (blowing up the pic didn't help).
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

Doug is right as usual.

Definitely a Nerodia.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Last mystery snake - though I know what this one is:

I hope so. Agkistrodon piscivorus. Subspecies either piscivorus or conanti, depending on locale, & may even be leucostoma.

Typical cottonmouth..riding high in the water, head slightly tilted with typical markings & coloration of a first year animal.

~~Greg~~

a DEFINITE cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus ssp.)

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Locale is Birmingham, Al. He plopped off of a tree that we had just passed under in our boats. Fortunately he didn't land on one of us.

This one was on the Coosa in Wetumpka.

Cool pics!. Thanks for sharing those with us. Yeah, the moccasin dropping into your boat wouldn't have been good for anyone, or the snake..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I had always thought when people told me stories of how 'the snake dropped from the tree limb into my boat' that that was an exaggeration, or an old wives tale, until that water moccasin dropped in right behind us. We were in kayaks with skirts so there was no way the snake would fall in the boats, but it certainly could have fallen 'in my lap' so to speak which I think is worse than in the bottom of a canoe! I guess I would have flipped over and rolled and hoped he was gone when I came back up.

"I guess I would have flipped over and rolled and hoped he was gone when I came back up"

Yes, I'm sure you would have "flipped" alright!..LOL!!!

But seriously though, yes, when snakes are surprised and instantly startled, they can definitely bolt-off in the wrong direction just from the element of sheer surprise and instinct to flee. Especially when resting on a low overhead branch above water. And of course, you now know this first-hand...

This is also how the many wives-tales of people claiming that snakes will "chase" after them originated too. Only when cornered does that generally occur, and even then it is usually in an attempt to flee. Their only other strategy is of course to stand their ground and strike.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

When I mentioned "fleeing", many other types of snakes will do this before moccasins will when they are suddenly confronted. Moccasins are pretty known for standing their ground with their mouths open ready to "deliver"..LOL!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

http://youtu.be/VmsU7863Qlo

Dunno why the video isn't showing.
SNAKE IN A CAVE

Very healthy looking P.emoryi! Did you guy's do the video?

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Some friends of mine made the video.