Northern 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 Northern 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, due to its widespread distribution, high adaptability, and large overall population size, though local populations face threats from habitat loss and human persecution.
Physical Description
Dark brown, grey, reddish, or blackish crossbands on the anterior portion of the body that transition into alternating dorsal and lateral blotches further down the back. The scales are heavily keeled, giving the body a rough or matte texture.
Size & Dimensions
Estimated specimen length is approximately 60 to 90 cm. Typical adult size ranges from 61 to 135 cm in total length.
Habitat
Aquatic habitats including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps, and temporary pools. Usually found close to the water's edge basking on rocks, logs, or low hanging branches.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds primarily on fish, amphibians, crayfish, and occasionally small mammals or birds. They hunt both by active foraging in water and by ambushing prey near the shoreline.
Reproduction
Viviparous, giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs. Mating occurs in spring, and females typically give birth to a litter of 8 to 50+ young in late summer or early autumn.
Look-alikes
Frequently confused with various species of venomous cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) due to similar coloration and aquatic habits, but can be distinguished by a round pupil, lack of facial pits, divided subcaudal scales, and a distinctly shaped head.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to its widespread distribution, high adaptability, and large overall population size, though local populations face threats from habitat loss and human persecution.
Cultural Significance
Plays a crucial ecological role in wetland food webs by regulating populations of fish and amphibians. Often misunderstood and mistakenly killed by humans due to misidentification with venomous species.
Notable Features
Highly adapted for an aquatic lifestyle with dorsal eyes and nostrils that allow it to breathe and view surroundings while mostly submerged. Known for releasing a strong-smelling musk and flattening their bodies when cornered.