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Project Noah Nature School
After I took this picture, he sat with his mouth open for a while and it was very white. I didn't think a hognose would do that. Also the body seems a little wide and flat to be a hognose. But I could see it not being a water moccasin, as he was about 100 yards away from the water.
Ok, well you just ruled out every identification technique that I have ever heard of. I do know that none of those things is completely accurate, but when all of them combine, it gives a pretty good estimate. So how do you suggest identifying snakes such as this one?
Since it is swimming in the water rather than on top (like the venomous snakes do) and since the eyes do not have vertical pupils, and since the head is not wide and angular shaped, I believe it is a harmless water snake. Given that it was in Ohio, I think the Northern Water snake is the correct species.
