Graham's Crayfish Snake
Regina grahamii
A medium-sized semi-aquatic snake averaging 18-28 inches in length, but can reach 4 feet. It has moderately keeled, matte scales. Its back and dorsal sides are dark olive…
How to identify
A medium-sized semi-aquatic snake averaging 18-28 inches in length, but can reach 4 feet. It has moderately keeled, matte scales. Its back and dorsal sides are dark olive to brown, with very faint black longitudinal lines running through this dark area. The ventral sides and ventrum of the snake are cream colored, with a thin black zig-zag line on each side of the ventrum at the intersection of lateral and ventral scales. A single row of faint black spots runs down the center of the ventrum. It has a smallish narrow head with large round eyes.
Range
East central United States, from northern Iowa to the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana, and from western Oklahoma to eastern Illinois and Mississippi.
Habitat
Primarily found along the edges of muddy marshes, rivers, lakes, and streams where crawfish are plentiful. They are very fond of roadside ditches, and like to hide under rocks, logs, vegetation, and inside crawfish burrows.
Variations
The faint black lines on the back are sometimes absent. Dark coloration ranges from dark olive to dark brown or dark grey.
Similar species
Most akin to the queen snake (*Regina septemvittata*), but also looks similar to the plain-bellied watersnake (*Nerodia erythrogaster*) and glossy swampsnake (*Liodytes rigida*).
Name and etymology
Qrahamii: Honoring James D. Graham
At a glance
Range
East central United States, from northern Iowa to the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana, and from western Oklahoma to eastern…
Habitat
Primarily found along the edges of muddy marshes, rivers, lakes, and streams where crawfish are plentiful. They are very fond…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap