Broad-banded Water Snake

Description:

A beautiful semi-aquatic snake that is named for the broad, irregular shaped bands along the back. These bands can be brown, red-brown, or black and are separated by yellow and gray. Like other water snakes, broad-banded water snakes are often mistaken for western cottonmouths and needlessly killed. Water snakes bite viciously to defend themselves and also secrete a strong-smelling musk from glands at the base of the tail.