Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia sipedon
Eastern and Central North America, spanning from Southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada, down to North Carolina and west to Colorado and the edge of the Rocky Mountains.
Look up Common Watersnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia sipedon
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN). Locally abundant, though they face threats from habitat loss, water pollution, and persecution by humans who mistake them for venomous cottonmouths.
Physical Description
Heavy-bodied snake with keeled scales and a base color ranging from brownish-grey to tan. It features dark crossbands near the head that break into alternating dorsal and lateral blotches further down the body. The head is relatively flat and wide with round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image appears to be an adult, approximately 60-80 cm. Typical adults range from 61 to 107 cm (24 to 42 inches), with a maximum record of 150 cm.
Habitat
Primarily semi-aquatic habitats including lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and streams. They are often found basking on rocks or logs near the water's edge and occur from sea level to approximately 1,500 meters.
Diet & Feeding
Specialized carnivore feeding mainly on fish and amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders). They use an active foraging strategy, swallowing prey alive rather than constricting.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Mating occurs in spring, and females give birth to 15 to 30 young in late summer or early fall.
Look-alikes
Commonly confused with the Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and Northern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Distinction: Watersnakes have round pupils (vs. vertical slit in vipers) and lack heat-sensing pits.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN). Locally abundant, though they face threats from habitat loss, water pollution, and persecution by humans who mistake them for venomous cottonmouths.
Cultural Significance
Often misunderstood and feared, they play a vital ecological role in controlling fish and amphibian populations and serving as a food source for larger predators like herons and snapping turtles.
Notable Features
Features heavily keeled scales and half-moon shaped spots on the ventral (belly) scales. They are capable of diving and remaining underwater for extended periods while hunting or escaping predators.