Plain-Bellied Water Snake: Habitat, Diet, and Identification Tips

Key Tips

• Plain-bellied water snakes are nonvenomous japanese North American natives.
• Often confused with cottonmouths, plain-bellied water snakes are nonvenomous and innocent.
• Plain-bellied water snakes don’t lay eggs — they provide delivery to fully-formed infants.

What is a Plain-bellied Water Snake 

Plain-bellied water snakes are one species out of the ten or so within the Nerodia genus. These nonvenomous snakes are innocent to individuals and eat a wide range of fish and amphibians. 

While some sources nonetheless acknowledge as much as six subspecies, most consultants imagine there isn’t sufficient genetic proof — leaving just one species of plain-bellied water snake with completely different regional shade morphs. In most instances, the largest distinction between them is the colour of their stomach.

Where to Find a Plain-bellied Water Snake

INaturalist exhibits them occupying an enormous swath of the southeastern United States. However, they aren’t as widespread as frequent water snakes. However, these snakes are frequent from the east coast of the United States, west to Texas. In the western areas, they happen as far north as Illinois and south into northern Mexico.

This water snake species spends extra time away from the water than its cousins however remains to be by no means removed from a water supply. Plain-bellied water snakes reside in practically any freshwater supply that may be a few ft deep and is slower shifting. These snakes get pleasure from areas with numerous brush and grasses for canopy, then slip into water that’s usually murky.

The solely locations they don’t reside within the southeastern United States are at larger elevations — so that you received’t discover these snakes in japanese Tennessee and western North Carolina’s mountains.

Diet & Behavior: What Do Plain-bellied Water Snakes Eat 

Like most water snakes, plain-bellied water snakes aggressively defend themselves. Some individuals see it as being aggressive however this isn’t true aggression. In a struggle or flight scenario, they select flight and received’t observe you to maintain attacking — an aggressive animal would proceed the attack. However, for those who nook and attempt to seize one, you’ll be on the receiving finish of their insanely sharp enamel. 

Plain-bellied water snakes hunt something from fish to aquatic bugs and frogs — however as a result of they spend extra outing of the water, amphibians like frogs and toads are the most typical prey objects. These snakes don’t hassle with constricting their meals, and so they aren’t venomous. Instead, plain-bellied water snakes merely seize with their enamel and swallow.

Although they hunt actively, these snakes have additionally been noticed mendacity nonetheless on the backside of ponds, ready to ambush a meal.

Babies and Reproduction

Plain-bellied water snakes don’t lay eggs. Instead, they mate throughout the spring after they emerge from brumation. Then, in mid to late summer time, give delivery to round a dozen young snakelets.

Although you could have assumed that each one reptiles lay eggs, extra give delivery to their young than you may suppose. Most vipers — together with rattlesnakes, European adders, and even Gaboon vipers give delivery. Additionally, garter snakes, water snakes, and boas give delivery to their young. 

Experts don’t know what induced these species to carry onto their young as a substitute of laying eggs. However, the advantages it gives are clear and simple. Giving delivery eliminates the necessity for a nest to bury or disguise eggs for the months of incubation — a interval the place they’re actually helpless. The infants are born prepared to satisfy the world and have a greater likelihood of survival.

How to Identify a Plain-bellied Water Snake 

Young plain-bellied water snakes have brighter patterns with pale outlines that individuals generally confuse with banded water snakes, besides these snakes haven’t any markings on their ventral aspect. Their solid-colored bellies range and shades of orange, yellow, tan, or reddish-orange are frequent. As they mature, they grow to be almost solid-colored. In many people, all however the pale sample outlines disappear — leaving pale strains that seem like somebody marked the snake with chalk.

Plain-bellied water snakes have triangular heads that lead many individuals to the fallacious identification. However, this species is nonvenomous and innocent to individuals — until you rely their sharp enamel. In these snakes, the eyes have spherical pupils and are set larger on their heads. If you look from above, their eyes are simply seen. Around their labial, or lip scales, they’ve darkish, vertical strains.

Their necks are noticeably thinner than their head, however not as a lot as with a pit viper, main right into a stout, muscular physique. Plain-bellied water snakes have keeled scales, giving them a considerably tough look. 

Identification Tips

Almost all water snake species get confused with rattlesnakes, copperheads, or cottonmouths at completely different instances. It’s common, particularly if you’re not comfy round snakes. But, by no means concern! Give these snakes an opportunity to go away and most will slither on out of your approach.

Here are a couple of identification ideas that may allow you to distinguish between a plain-bellied water snake from a cottonmouth.

Eyes, head form, and facial markings. If somebody advised you that each one venomous snakes have vertical, cat-eye-shaped pupils, they had been fallacious. Besides, for those who’re shut sufficient to see the pupil form, you might be additionally usually shut sufficient to be bitten. 

While it’s true that North American pit vipers like copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes have vertical pupils, chances are you’ll not have the ability to see the form in low mild. The pupil adjustments form — opening and shutting to regulate the quantity of sunshine coming into it. Not solely that, however innocent night time snakes have vertical pupils and venomous coral snakes have spherical pupils. 

So, pupil form isn’t a dependable indicator.

What is true is that plain-bellied water snakes have vertical labial bars and venomous North American pit vipers like cottonmouths don’t. Instead, many cottonmouths have a darkish stripe that begins at their eye and extends backward towards their jaw.

Plain-bellied water snakes have spherical pupils and eyes set larger on their heads. In distinction, cottonmouths’ eyes are decrease and have an enlarged scale over their eyes that makes it practically not possible to see their eyes if you look down on them.

Although plain-bellied water snakes have triangular heads, they’re usually softer in look. Cottonmouths’ heads have sharply angular options and large cheeks filled with venom glands. 

Neck and physique thickness. Plain-bellied water snakes have thin-ish necks that connect with stocky our bodies. In distinction, cottonmouths and different pit vipers have very skinny necks and stout our bodies — cottonmouths have very skinny tails, however rattlesnakes have properly…rattles.  

Behavior. Many pit vipers, together with cottonmouths, freeze after they sense hazard. They depend on their superb camouflage to maintain out of sight. Some rattlesnakes rattle and again away whereas hissing. They’re a bit obnoxious. Cottonmouths simply open their mouths huge and showcase their cotton-white mouths. 

Plain-bellied water snakes have a quite simple rule: Escape when attainable, and chunk repeatedly every time somebody grabs them. Remember they eat frogs and fish? Their enamel are particularly designed to carry their slippery prey — razor sharp. These snakes additionally make use of a smelly weapon — musk. It is an especially foul-smelling substance they launch together with feces from their cloaca. 

Color and Pattern. Young plain-bellied water snakes have dorsal blotches with light-colored stripes between every. Along their sides, thick bars come up from the stomach. As they mature, their complete coloration darkens and all that’s normally left of the sample is mild chalk strains on their backs and faint bars simply above their bellies; they normally flip olive-brown or black as adults.

Young cottonmouths have pixelated bands that generally seem like chocolate kisses, however not all the time. There is normally a spot inside their bands, which helps set them other than their cousins the copperhead. Yet, it’s that vivid yellow or inexperienced tail that units them other than water snakes. As cottonmouths mature, in addition they grow to be very darkish — almost black. Their sharply angular heads and considerably offended expression additionally helps inform them other than water snakes.