oksnakes.org
  • Home
  • Harmless Species
    • Broad-banded watersnake
    • Bullsnake
    • Coachwhip
    • Common gartersnake
    • DeKay's brownsnake
    • Diamond-backed watersnake
    • Eastern hog-nosed snake
    • Flat-headed snake
    • Graham's crayfish snake
    • Great Plains ratsnake
    • Kansas glossy snake
    • Lined snake
    • Long-nosed snake
    • Marcy's checkered gartersnake
    • Northern red-bellied snake
    • Northern watersnake
    • Orange-striped ribbonsnake
    • Plain-bellied watersnake
    • Plains black-headed snake
    • Plains gartersnake
    • Plains hog-nosed snake
    • Prairie kingsnake
    • Racer
    • Ring-necked snake
    • Rough earthsnake
    • Rough greensnake
    • Scarletsnake
    • Speckled kingsnake
    • Texas nightsnake
    • Threadsnake
    • Variable groundsnake
    • Western black-necked gartersnake
    • Western milksnake
    • Western mudsnake
    • Western smooth earthsnake
    • Western ratsnake
    • Western wormsnake
  • Venomous Species
    • Copperhead
    • Northern cottonmouth
    • Prairie rattlesnake
    • Timber rattlesnake
    • Western diamond-backed rattlesnake
    • Western massasauga rattlesnake
    • Western pygmy rattlesnake
  • Patterned
  • Solid
  • Striped
  • About
  • Contact
Plain-bellied watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
HARMLESS
 
Description: 
This snake has an obvious pattern when it is younger and can darken with age. The belly is yellow and there are dark markings on the outer edges of each belly scale.  The scales are heavily keeled, and the anal plate is divided. 

Size: 
Adults 30 - 48 inches (76 - 122 cm)

Prey: 
Fish, frogs, tadpoles, and salamanders

Reproduction: 
Mates April to June.  Females give birth to 5 - 25 babies in late summer and they are 7 - 12 inches (10 - 13 cm) long.

Habitat: 
Ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, wetland areas, and virtually any permanent body of water

Other Information: 
Often confused with the venomous cottonmouth, this harmless snake is commonly seen basking on logs and rocks near water. When threatened it may emit a foul-smelling musk or even attempt to bite.
 

​
Why doesn't the range map show this species in my county?
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly