Banded water snake


The banded water snake or southern water snake is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake endemic to the central and southeastern United States.

Geographic range

It is found from Indiana, south to Louisiana and east to Florida.

Description

Adults of the banded water snake measures from in total length, with a record size of in total length. In one study of the species, the average body mass of adult snakes was.
It is typically gray, greenish-gray, or brown in color, with dark crossbanding. Many specimens are so dark in color that their patterning is barely discernible. They have flat heads, and are fairly heavy-bodied. If irritated, they release a foul-smelling musk to deter predators.
Their appearance leads them to be frequently mistaken for other snakes with which they share a habitat, including the less common, venomous cottonmouth.

Habitat

Nerodia fasciata inhabits most freshwater environments such as lakes, marshes, ponds, and streams.

Diet

It preys mainly on fish and frogs. Using its vomeronasal organ, also called Jacobson's organ, the snake can detect parvalbumins in the cutaneous mucus of its prey.

Reproduction

The species is ovoviviparous, giving birth to live young. The brood size varies from 9 to 50. Newborns are 200–240 mm in total length.

Subspecies

The three recognized subspecies of Nerodia fasciata, including the nominotypical subspecies, are:
Some sources consider Nerodia clarkii compressicauda and Nerodia clarkii taeniata to be subspecies of Nerodia fasciata. Also, some sources have considered Nerodia fasciata to be a subspecies of Nerodia sipedon.