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Project Noah Nature School
Nerodia sipedon
Description: Northern watersnakes range in size from 24 to 55 in (61-140 cm). They are fairly dark-colored snakes and may be brown, tan or grayish. The coloration is much more vivid in young and wet specimens. Their back and sides have a series of square blotches that alternate and may merge to form bands. Their scales are keeled and the anal plate is divided. Adult females tend to be larger than adult males. This species is often confused with the venomous cottonmouth (water moccasin), but cottonmouths have bands instead of blotches and their distribution is generally restricted to the Coastal Plain.
Range and Habitat: Northern Watersnakes are found throughout eastern and central North America. In our region, they are restricted to the Piedmont and mountains. They inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats including lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and streams.
Spotted along Amicalola River Trail (right next to river)
Yea, the triangular head thing mostly works in the US, with the exception of water snakes! And of course the coral snake has no indication of a triangular head, so it doesn't always work. A good thing to tell with the cottonmouth is they have a dark chocolate colored stripe that extends from the back of the nose, through the eye, and to the back of the head. That's what I always look for!
Thanks I'll correct my posting!
This head type is a lot more triangular than what I associate with nonenomous, but it's good to know the place where my kids like to splash around has at least ONE less venomous snake living nearby than I thought there was :)
Hi there QWMom, a cottonmouth would have horizontal bars across the body, not spots like this guy has. Cottonmouths also have a much more distinct neck to head, where as this guy barely has a neck and the head almost looks to be part of the body.
Spotted on Apr 10, 2011
Submitted on Feb 1, 2013
+3
