Black Swamp Snake
Seminatrix pygaea
A small, glossy black semi-aquatic snake with a bright red-orange belly, found in southeastern wetlands.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.25-0.4 m (10-16 in)
- Range
- Southeastern coastal plain of the United States
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Overview
The black swamp snake is a small, secretive species found in wetlands, ponds, and slow streams across the coastal plain of the southeastern United States.
It is easily recognized by its shiny black upper body contrasted sharply with a vivid red or orange underside, a pattern it shares with a few other secretive aquatic colubrids.
How to identify it
- Uniform glossy black or dark brown dorsal coloration
- Bright red, orange, or pink belly, sometimes with dark checkering
- Smooth, glossy scales
- Small, slender body
- Small head barely wider than neck
- Distinguished from similar dark aquatic snakes by its glossy smooth scales and vivid ventral coloration
Habitat & range
Found in heavily vegetated swamps, ponds, ditches, and slow streams with abundant aquatic plants and soft substrate across the coastal plain from North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Secretive and largely aquatic, often hiding in submerged vegetation or debris. Feeds on small fish, salamanders, tadpoles, and earthworms. Mostly nocturnal or crepuscular. Bears live young.
Frequently asked questions
Is the black swamp snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous and completely harmless to people.
How can it be identified?
Look for its glossy black back combined with a bright red or orange belly and small, slender body.
Where does it live?
It inhabits vegetated wetlands and slow streams across the southeastern coastal plain of the United States.
What does it eat?
It feeds on small fish, salamanders, tadpoles, and earthworms.
Black Swamp Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Black Swamp Snake.
