Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia sipedon
Eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Canada down through the eastern United States to the Gulf Coast and west to Kansas and Oklahoma.
Look up Common Watersnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia sipedon
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable, though local declines can occur due to habitat destruction, pollution, and direct persecution.
Physical Description
The specimen shows dark crossbands near the neck transitioning to alternating blotches further down the body, typical of the Nerodia genus. Coloration ranges from brown to dark grey or blackish. The head is relatively distinct from the neck with a somewhat flattened appearance.
Size & Dimensions
Estimated length of the visible section suggests a medium-sized adult. Typical adult size ranges from 75 to 140 cm (30 to 55 inches), with females generally larger than males.
Habitat
Found primarily in or near permanent bodies of fresh water such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, and swamps. They prefer areas with abundant basking sites like logs, rocks, or hanging branches.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds predominantly on fish and amphibians, including frogs, tadpoles, and salamanders. They hunt both actively by foraging in shallow water and through ambush tactics.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young). Mating occurs in spring, and females typically give birth to a litter of 10 to 50 young in late summer or early autumn.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable, though local declines can occur due to habitat destruction, pollution, and direct persecution.
Cultural Significance
Plays an important ecological role in aquatic food webs by regulating populations of fish and amphibians. Often misunderstood and mistakenly killed out of fear.
Notable Features
Exhibits robust behaviors when cornered, including flattening the head, striking repeatedly, and releasing a foul-smelling musk from the cloacal glands.