Midland Water Snake

Nerodia sipedon pleuralis

Venom Status:

Non Venomous

 

Characteristics:

Adult at 2 to 3 feet, but occasionally attains 4 feet in length. Full bands anteriorly become saddles posterior to the neck where they then alternate with lateral blotches. Light areas between the bands are usually 2 or more scales wide. Ground color varies from brown to gray to cinnamon, and the band/blotch color from black to tan or red. The belly may be dark or light with small paired spots near the center of each ventral scute. Upper and lower labial between-scale-sutures are dark. Scales keeled, anal plate divided. Ovoviviparous. Juveniles are more strongly marked than the adults. Intergrades widely with the northern water snake where it ranges about. Frogs and fish are the principal food items.

 

Unique Features:

Pattern of neck bands becoming blotches, and labial “whiskers,” and wide light areas will help with identification.

 

Habitat and Diet:

Aquatic, but often seen basking on emergent vegetation, the shoreline, or floating debris, on sunny days. Frogs and fish are the principal food items.

 

Geographic Range:

FL, GA, SC, AL, NC, TN, KY, VA, AR, IL, IN, LA, MS, MO,