Meet the 15 Snakes of Texas’ Guadalupe River

Texas, the second-largest U.S. State has a ton of snake species — eventually rely the full was round 80. So, wherever you go inside the Lonestar State, there’s a great probability you’ll discover a number of snakes — the Guadalupe River isn’t any exception.

Beginning in Kerr County, Texas, the Guadalupe River’s course flows 230 miles. It winds by means of hills and flatlands earlier than draining into San Antonio Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. The river has every little thing from limestone banks to whitewater rapids. You can even discover historical bald cypress timber within the higher part, and go tubing or fly fishing in some sections of the river.

Plain-Bellied Watersnake(Nerodia erythrogaster)

This innocent species with a barely goofy-looking face is usually confused for venomous cottonmouth snakes. Plain-bellied watersnakes are widespread in and across the Guadalupe River and use their razor-sharp tooth to catch fish and amphibians. However, regardless that they’re innocent, these tooth damage! When cornered, this species bites early and infrequently.

Adult plain-bellied watersnakes are about 4 and a half toes lengthy and have keeled scales and vertical strains alongside their lips.

Diamondback Watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer)

This plain-bellied watersnake cousin often grows to about 5 toes lengthy. Their sample, harking back to a chain-link fence, varieties diamonds down most of their backs. Diamondback watersnakes have keeled scales however aren’t as heavy-bodied as plain-bellied watersnakes. Additionally, their sample doesn’t diminish as a lot as they age.

They even have vertical bars (referred to as labial bars) alongside their lip. It’s a simple approach to distinguish between a cottonmouth and a innocent watersnake. Diamondback watersnakes are comparatively widespread across the Guadalupe River, the place they’re typically seen dangling above the water, ready for a tasty fish or frog to swim beneath.

Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

Although not water-loving snakes like just a few others, coachwhips aren’t unusual close to water. These lengthy, skinny snakes are considerably carefully associated to racers, and actually, had been as soon as included in the identical genus. However, these snakes get their identify from the patterning on their scales, particularly within the again half of their physique – it seems to be like a braided whip.

Coachwhips are fast-moving snakes which are identified snake eaters, typically venomous, and for a selected habits they exhibit. Called periscoping by many, coachwhips typically slither together with their heads above the lengthy grasses they like to inhabit. They have massive eyes, glorious imaginative and prescient, and an inquisitive nature.

Long and skinny, grownup coachwhips can attain seven toes lengthy, however most keep smaller. They’re innocent snakes that assist maintain the rodent inhabitants alongside the Guadalupe River.

Texas Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri)

It’s really onerous to inform this western ratsnake subspecies from the others, so more often than not individuals merely name it a western ratsnake. However, Texas ratsnakes are completely different sufficient to be a subspecies and have a few visible variations from different western ratsnakes — the most important distinction is the grey head on Texas ratsnakes.

Regardless of which subspecies you encounter, ratsnakes are semiarboreal and glorious climbers. They develop as much as 5 toes lengthy or so and are muscular snakes with a blotchy sample. You’re extra more likely to spot them within the timber across the Guadalupe River reasonably than on the bottom.

Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis proximus)

This garter snake loves water, similar to different garter snake species. Western ribbon snakes are semi-aquatic and primarily feed on amphibians and their tadpoles; additionally they feed on lizards and fish. Noticeably thinner than different garter snake species, western ribbon snakes have clearly outlined stripes down the size of their our bodies. They are comparatively widespread alongside the Guadalupe River and develop as much as 30 inches lengthy.

Black-Necked Garter Snake (Thamnophis cyrtopsis)

Black-necked garter snakes have distinctive black markings on their necks. They often have an orange or yellowish dorsal stripe. Like different garter snakes, they feast on small prey like fish, amphibians, and earthworms of their moist habitat.

These snakes are innocent and considerably widespread alongside the Guadalupe River. Black-necked garter snakes can develop to 42 inches lengthy and are mostly discovered close to the water.

Checkered Garter Snake (Thamnophis marcianus)

Also referred to as Marcy’s garter snake, checkered garter snakes have well-defined checker-board patterns on both aspect of their dorsal stripe. They can get to 42 inches lengthy as adults however often measure 18 to 24 inches. Checkered garter snakes are native to the southwestern U.S. and don’t enterprise farther east than the Guadalupe River, the place they’re widespread snakes.

These snakes have related diets as different garter and ribbon snakes, primarily consuming earthworms and amphibians.

Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

These are a number of the cutest snakes. Seriously! If their defensive antics didn’t make you like them, a hognose’s lovely little snout will. Eastern hognose snakes can get to 4 toes lengthy however often measure round two toes lengthy. They have blotches down their backs with smaller blotches on the edges. Some are so darkish you may’t see the sample, however their cute little snout is simple to identify.

These snakes are extra prevalent in areas the place the soil is free and sandy. They love burrowing and digging round to flush out their favourite meals: toads! If you see an japanese hognose snake it’s a deal with.

Rough Earthsnake (Haldea striatula)

Small and fossorial, you could by no means see one in the event you float down the river in a tube. However, mountain climbing alongside the leaf-litter-covered trails could offer you an opportunity to see one. Rough earthsnakes are small and many individuals mistake them for Dekay’s brownsnakes till they give the impression of being nearer.

They solely measure about 10 inches lengthy as adults and eat slugs, snails, and different soft-bodied arthropods. Rough earthsnakes stay all alongside the Guadalupe River.

Texas Blind Snake (Rena dulcis)

This snake spends almost all of its life underground, looking insect larvae, termites, and ants. Texas blind snakes have additionally been present in screech owl nests, consuming ants and different parasites.

Texas blind snakes don’t have any eyes or tooth. These snakes are utterly innocent and typically get confused for worms till you look nearer. They are solely about 10 inches lengthy and never as widespread as different snakes alongside the Guadalupe River. However, that doesn’t make it not possible to search out one!

Texas Patchnose Snake (Salvadora lineata)

Primarily within the higher part of the Guadalupe River, Texas patchnose snakes are skinny and could possibly be confused with ribbon snakes. These snakes often develop to about three toes lengthy and have a modified scale on their snout that they use for burrowing in free soil and leaf litter. It seems to be like a patch on their nostril, therefore their identify.

Texas patchnose snakes have striped our bodies. It’s onerous to inform the place the bottom shade ends and the stripes begin — dorsally, they’ve one light-colored stripe and a thick, dark-colored stripe on both aspect. Lower on their sides, one other gentle stripe subsequent to a skinny darkish one. Colors are often shades of brown, tan, or grey. Not a lot is understood about this patchnose snake species. However, whether it is just like others of its genus, Texas patchnose snakes doubtless eat numerous small mammals, reptile eggs, grasshoppers, lizards, and different small prey.

They’re utterly innocent, however quick-moving. If you’re attempting to get a terrific picture, it most likely received’t be straightforward.

Venomous Snakebite First-Aid

Medical professionals have realized lots about what to not do when somebody is bitten by a venomous snake within the U.S. For a few years, the really useful method was trying to suck out the venom. Don’t do that. It doesn’t work and will trigger extra injury.

Here are just a few extra issues to keep away from within the case of a rattlesnake chew:

• Do not use a tourniquet
• Do not ice the chew location
• Don’t try to suck out the venom along with your mouth or a suction gadget. Even in the event you tried to suck out the venom, you’d solely get about 1/10,000th of the venom injected.
• Don’t make any incisions over the wound. 

There are roughly 8,000 venomous snakebites yearly within the U.S. Of these, only some trigger fatalities. A couple of easy snakebite ideas will provide help to scale back the injury and have a greater probability at a full restoration.

Here’s what you ought to do if bitten by a venomous snake:

• Stay calm! If you panic, it raises your blood stress and coronary heart fee, spreading the venom by means of your physique sooner.
• Either name 911 or an area dispatch. If you may get an ambulance, terrific. Otherwise, allow them to know you’re coming into the ER and the place.
• Take off restrictive clothes and jewellery. Snake venom causes swelling, typically huge. If you don’t become loose-fitting clothes and take away watches and jewellery, it might trigger extra ache and tissue injury as the world swells.
• Immobilize the physique half and hold it beneath the guts, if in any respect potential.

Broad-Banded Copperhead (Agkistrodon laticinctus)

Like different copperhead species, the broad-banded copperhead is venomous and has a copper-colored head. Instead of the very outlined chocolate-kiss sample, the markings are thicker alongside the backbone. Yet, in the event you’ve seen a copperhead, these snakes are simply recognized!

They develop about two toes lengthy and have a assorted weight loss plan that features fish, small birds, frogs, lizards, arthropods, and even different snakes. Unlike different venomous snakes, copperheads are inclined to freeze in place as a substitute of shifting away from the menace. Their hope is to stay unnoticed.

Broad-banded copperhead snakes happen alongside many of the Guadalupe River, sometimes away from the shoreline within the brush and leaf litter.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

This massive rattlesnake could possibly attain seven toes lengthy however often averages 4 to 5 toes lengthy. This species’ has tough diamond-shaped saddle markings that turn into black and white bands on the tail, proper earlier than the rattle. Western diamondback rattlesnakes have closely keeled physique scales, and their heads are coated in tiny scales that appear to be pebbles from a distance.

Notoriously nervous, the western diamondback rattlesnake tends to rattle from afar. If you give them sufficient area, they’re very happy to again away from you. These venomous pit vipers can ship a harmful venom amount. However, only a few rattlesnake bites within the U.S. are deadly, due to antivenom and medical care.

These snakes might be discovered alongside many of the Guadalupe River. While they aren’t semi-aquatic, like our subsequent pit viper, western diamondback rattlesnakes are glorious swimmers and infrequently take a dip when the skin temperatures rise.

Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

These snakes are extra widespread within the decrease Guadalupe River, the place the water strikes slower. Cottonmouths are the one semi-aquatic pit viper on this planet. However fearsome their fame, they lack aggression. These snakes have zero curiosity in you as something apart from a menace to their security.

Cottonmouths get their identify from the colour of the within of their mouth — white! The solely cause you ever see the within of their mouth is as a result of they coil up, keep put, and fling their mouth open as a warning to maintain away. Like copperheads, cottonmouths freeze once they sense a menace when on the land. In the water, they’re more likely to swim away to flee.

Texas Coral Snake (Micrurus tener)

Coral snakes are the one elapids within the United States. Of the three that happen, Texas solely has one: the Texas coral snake. Before you are worried, coral snakes are extraordinarily reclusive and reluctant to chew. They develop as much as 48 inches lengthy with a skinny pipe-shaped physique. Texas coral snakes’ sample is a black head, huge yellow band behind their eyes, adopted by alternating bands of black, yellow, and pink. A singular attribute is that these snakes’ bands encircle their physique.

Unlike the pit vipers alongside the Guadalupe River, coral snakes have spherical pupils. So don’t get lured in by pupil form when figuring out whether or not you’re looking at a venomous snake! Texas coral snakes are semi-fossorial, spending most of their time below moist leaf litter, and are not often encountered.

Other Animals In and Around the Guadalupe River in Texas

Snakes aren’t the one animals you would possibly see across the Guadalupe River. This area is stuffed with life — massive and small. Coyotes, hawks, squirrels, and deer are widespread. Here are just a few species native to the area.

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