Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon
It has an average length of 81.4cm and 69.6cm in females and males respectively. It could be brown, grey, reddish or brownish-black, with dark crossbands on the neck and…
How to identify
It has an average length of 81.4cm and 69.6cm in females and males respectively. It could be brown, grey, reddish or brownish-black, with dark crossbands on the neck and dark blotches on the body. Its skin colour darkens as it ages. The belly could be white, grey or yellow, with reddish or black crescents.
Range
The Common Watersnake is discovered throughout eastern and central North America, from Southern Ontario and southern Quebec in the north, down to Texas and Florida in the south. Although, it has been introduced in California.
Habitat
They can be found in muskrat houses and beavers lodges. They are mostly found in any area with fresh water like; lakes, ponds, marshes and canals. They mate from April to June. The mother can carry up to 30 eggs inside her and gives birth to live young, 19-23 cm long, between August and October. They are active at daytime and nighttime. While It hunts during the day, looking for frogs, leeches, salamanders and small birds, it concentrates on minnows, sleeping in shallow water at night.
Variations
Nerodia sipedon insularum (Lake Erie water snake): it can grow up to 150 cm and is slenderer built than other members of the genus. They also lack dorsal crossbands and blotches. Nerodia sipedon pleuralis (midland water snake): it has an average length of 56-102 cm with a pattern of dark crossbands on a light ground colour. Nerodia sipedon sipedon (northern water snake): it has closely-spaced set of dark crossbands that break up at midbody to form set of blotches. Its maximum length recorded is 55.3 inches. Nerodia sipedon williamengelsi (Carolina water snake)
Similar species
The eastern watersnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) measure 36-72 inches in total length, with a shiny black dorsum and white chin and throat. It has 23-27 rows of weakly keeled dorsal scales at midbody. The banded watersnake (Nerodia fasciata) are aquatic species with an average length of 24-42 inches. It has a dark crossbanding on a grey or brown dorsum. The Queen snake (Regina septemvittata) has grey, olive or dark brown pigmentation, with yellow or peach stripes than runs down its length. They hardly grow up to 24 inches.
Name and etymology
Sipedon: Greek for rottenness or decay (sepedon); a serpent whose bite causes mortification.
More illustrations
Midland watersnake
At a glance
Size
61 to 140 cm
Range
The Common Watersnake is discovered throughout eastern and central North America, from Southern Ontario and southern Quebec i…
Habitat
They can be found in muskrat houses and beavers lodges. They are mostly found in any area with fresh water like; lakes, ponds…
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap