Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster • Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Natricinae; Genus: Nerodia; Species: Nerodia erythrogaster
Venomous Status
Non-venomous (Aglyphous: lacking specialized fangs)
Danger Level
Harmless; while they are often defensive and may bite if handled, they pose no significant medical threat to humans beyond local irritation or minor infection risks.
Geographic Range
Southeastern and Central United States, ranging from Delaware and the Carolinas westward to Texas and Northern Mexico, and northward through the Mississippi Valley to Michigan.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN), though certain subspecies like the Copper-bellied Watersnake (N. e. neglecta) are federally threatened in parts of their range due to wetland drainage.
Physical Description
The specimen displays a heavy-bodied build with strongly keeled scales. Coloration is a solid dark gray or olive-brown dorsally, with a conspicuous yellow or orange-red unpatterned belly visible on the lower flanks. The head is relatively broad and distinct from the neck with large labial scales.
Size & Dimensions
Typically 76–122 cm (30–48 inches) in total length. Large adults can reach up to 157 cm (62 inches). This specimen appears to be an adult.
Habitat
Highly aquatic; found in swamps, lakes, ponds, slow-moving rivers, and ephemeral wetlands. Unlike many other watersnakes, this species is frequently found in terrestrial habitats bordering water bodies.
Behavior & Temperament
Diurnal in spring and fall, crepuscular or nocturnal during hot summer months. They are highly defensive when cornered, frequently flattening their heads, striking, and releasing a foul-smelling musk and cloacal discharge.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily an active forager specializing in amphibians (frogs, toads, and tadpoles) and occasionally small fish. They hunt both in water and on land.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Breeding occurs in the spring, with litters ranging from 5 to 55 neonates born in late summer or early autumn.
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 required. If any unusual symptoms occur, seek medical attention.
Look-alikes
North American Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus) which has cat-like pupils and a heat-sensing pit; and other watersnakes like Nerodia sipedon, which usually retains dorsal banding.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN), though certain subspecies like the Copper-bellied Watersnake (N. e. neglecta) are federally threatened in parts of their range due to wetland drainage.
Cultural Significance
Often misunderstood and lethally misidentified as the venomous Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin. Ecologically vital as a mid-level predator that controls amphibian populations.
Notable Features
Distinguished from other North American watersnakes by its plain, unpatterned belly and its tendency to travel much farther from water sources than related species.