Banded Watersnake
Nerodia fasciata • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia fasciata
Southeastern United States, ranging from North Carolina down through Florida and west to Louisiana and Mississippi.
Look up Banded Watersnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia fasciata
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable throughout most of their native range.
Physical Description
Robust body with heavily keeled scales. Dark brown or blackish banding pattern over a lighter background, though older individuals may become extremely dark and obscure the pattern. Heavy keeling gives the dorsal scales a ridged appearance.
Size & Dimensions
Typical adult length ranges from 24 to 42 inches (60 to 107 cm), with maximum records reaching up to over 50 inches.
Habitat
Found primarily in or near freshwater habitats such as streams, rivers, swamps, marshes, ponds, and lakes. Often basks on vegetation or logs near water.
Diet & Feeding
Feeds primarily on fish and amphibians, including frogs, tadpoles, and salamanders. Hunts actively in and around water.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives live birth). Mating typically occurs in spring, with females giving birth to litters averaging 15 to 20 young in late summer.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable throughout most of their native range.
Cultural Significance
Plays an important ecological role in controlling amphibian and fish populations in aquatic ecosystems.
Notable Features
Known for behaviors when cornered, including flattening the head and body, releasing a foul-smelling musk, and striking repeatedly.