Brown Water Snake
Nerodia taxispilota
A large, heavy-bodied water snake often seen basking on branches over southeastern rivers, patterned with square dark blotches.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.75-1.6 m (2.5-5.3 ft)
- Range
- Southeastern United States coastal plain
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Overview
The Brown Water Snake is a large, robust species of the southeastern coastal plain, commonly seen basking on branches overhanging rivers and swamps. It is one of the bulkier North American water snakes, sometimes mistaken for a venomous species due to its size and defensive posture.
It is closely tied to slow, wooded waterways where overhanging vegetation provides ample basking sites.
How to identify it
- Large, heavy body, brown to tan with a series of squarish dark brown blotches down the back, offset in a checkerboard-like arrangement
- Distinctly bulky head and neck compared to other water snakes
- Keeled scales
- Round pupils
- Distinguished from venomous look-alikes by round pupils and lack of facial pits
Habitat & range
Found along wooded rivers, swamps, and lake margins with overhanging branches across the coastal plain of the southeastern United States.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal, frequently basking on branches overhanging water and dropping in when disturbed. Feeds primarily on fish. Can be defensive but is non-venomous. Bears live young.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Brown Water Snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous, though its size and defensiveness sometimes lead to confusion with venomous species.
Where is it commonly seen?
Basking on branches overhanging rivers and swamps in the southeastern coastal plain.
What does it eat?
Primarily fish, which it hunts in and near slow-moving wooded waterways.
Brown Water Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Brown Water Snake.
