Plain-bellied Water Snake
Nerodia erythrogaster
A stout water snake with a plain, unpatterned belly ranging from yellow to orange, and a mostly uniform dorsal color as an adult.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.75-1.4 m (2.5-4.6 ft)
- Range
- Central and southeastern United States
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Overview
The Plain-bellied Water Snake is a widespread species found across the central and southeastern United States, named for its uniformly colored, unmarked underside. Juveniles show more blotched dorsal patterning that tends to fade with age.
It occupies a broad range of freshwater and even brackish habitats and is one of the more frequently encountered Nerodia species.
How to identify it
- Stout body, plain olive, brown, or gray dorsally in adults, often with faint blotching in juveniles
- Unmarked, solid yellow, orange, or reddish belly, giving the species its name
- Keeled scales
- Round pupils
- Distinguished from other water snakes chiefly by the plain, unpatterned venter
Habitat & range
Found in swamps, ponds, sloughs, ditches, and slow streams across the central and southeastern United States, sometimes in slightly brackish water.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and crepuscular, foraging in and near water for fish and amphibians. Often basks near water's edge. Defensive when cornered but non-venomous. Bears live young.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Plain-bellied Water Snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous and harmless to humans.
Why is it called plain-bellied?
Its underside is a solid, unmarked color, usually yellow, orange, or reddish, unlike the patterned bellies of some relatives.
Do juveniles look different from adults?
Yes, juveniles often show more blotched dorsal patterning that fades as they mature.
Plain-bellied Water Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Plain-bellied Water Snake.
Plain-bellied Water Snake identified by the community
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