Range
This species is usually found mostly in the Southeastern United States which ranges from Texas to northern Florida in the south and Michigan to Delaware in the north.
Habitats
This species is most likely to be found near a constant water source such as lake, stream or other slow-moving body. Nerodia Erythrogaster or plain-bellied water snake is ovoviviparous, that is, it gives birth to its young ones alive similar to other North American garter snakes and water snakes. The breeding period ranges from April to June producing broods of 5-27 young ones born between August and October. Fish, reptiles, rodents and amphibians are amongst the diet of the plain-bellied water snake.
Identification
The adult plain-bellied water snake range from 24-40 inches in length, although some members of this species can reach up to 55 inches in some states like Kansas. The underside of the plain-bellied Watersnake is, like the name suggests, unpatterned. The dorsum is either solid color from gray to olive to brown, or blotched with light indistinct crossbands. Young snakes have dark brown blotches separated by light bands, often with reddish sides between blotches.
It vigorously protects itself with repeated strikes and making its head flattened to look like a cottonmouth.
Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians