Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia erythrogaster
Venomous Status
Non-venomous
Danger Level
Harmless - though they are defensive and will bite if handled, they pose no toxic threat to humans.
Geographic Range
Southeastern and Central United States, ranging from Delaware and Georgia westward to Texas, and northward through the Mississippi Valley to Michigan and Illinois.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN), though some northern subspecies (like the Copper-bellied Watersnake) are considered threatened or endangered at State and Federal levels.
Physical Description
A stout-bodied snake with heavily keeled scales. Dorsal color is usually solid brown, gray, or olive-green with little to no pattern in adults. The belly is distinctively plain and unpatterned, ranging from yellow to orange or reddish. The head is wider than the neck, and the eyes have round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen appears to be an adult. Typical adult length ranges from 76 to 122 cm (30-48 inches), with a maximum recorded length of 150 cm.
Habitat
Found in various aquatic habitats including swamps, rivers, lakes, and marshes. This species is notably more terrestrial than other watersnakes, often found in forests or fields bordering water sources.
Behavior & Temperament
Diurnal in spring and fall, often becoming nocturnal in hot summer months. Known for being quite defensive; when threatened, they will flatten their heads, hiss, and release a foul-smelling musk. They are quick to bite if cornered.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous, primarily feeding on amphibians (frogs, toads, and salamanders) and occasionally fish. They are active hunters that forage along the water's edge and occasionally on land.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Mating occurs in spring, and females give birth to 5 to 50 young in late summer or early fall.
Venom & Safety
Venom Type
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom.
First Aid Advice
Wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water to prevent infection. No antivenom is necessary. If bitten, remain calm as the snake is non-venomous.
Look-alikes
Commonly confused with the venomous Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) due to similar body shape and color; however, Nerodia have round pupils (vs. vertical), lack heat-sensing pits, and have a double row of subcaudal scales.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN), though some northern subspecies (like the Copper-bellied Watersnake) are considered threatened or endangered at State and Federal levels.
Cultural Significance
Important ecological role in controlling amphibian populations. They are often victims of mistaken identity, frequently killed due to their resemblance to the Cottonmouth.
Notable Features
Highly aquatic but moves more readily over land than many other watersnakes; its name 'erythrogaster' translates to 'red belly,' reflecting one of its common color phases.