Natrix sipedon erythrogaster — Allen, 1932; Natrix erythrogaster — Clay, 1938; Natrix e. erythrogaster — Conant, 1958; Nerodia e. erythrogaster — Conant & Collins, 1991; Nerodia erythrogaster, commonly known as the plain-bellied water snake or plainbelly water snake, is a familiar species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake endemic to the United States. They feed primarily on fish, crayfish, salamanders, and frogs. Some lighter colored snakes dispaly dark dorsal blotches. Juvenile - Cobb Co., GA - September 2002. in our region and are not protected throughout most of it. [4], 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63854A12722399.en, "Nerodia erythrogaster Plainbelly Water Snake", "Captive Snake Gives Second Virgin Birth in Two Months", "Phylogeographic analysis and environmental niche modeling of the plain-bellied watersnake (, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nerodia_erythrogaster&oldid=971548843, Taxonbars with automatically added original combinations, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 August 2020, at 20:51. However, when agitated they may flatten their bodies and bite. [3] Juvenile snakes have banding patterns similar to banded water snakes, but can be identified by their unmarked bellies. Males are usually smaller than females. The back and sides have a series of square blotches alternating with each other that may merge to form bands. The coloration is much more vivid in young and wet specimens. One female was observed with a litter of fifty five baby snakes in North Carolina,[4] In 2014 a captive female produced two healthy offspring via parthenogenesis.
The common watersnake can grow up to 135 cm (4 ft 5 in) in total length (including tail). These snakes are only social during fall and spring. Study Species Nerodia sipedon is an abundant semiaquatic natricine with a broad distribution in eastern and central North America (Ernst and Ernst 2003). Their lifespan is nine years in captivity, but is unknown in the wild. [4][3], This species bears live young (ovoviviparous) like other North American water snakes and garter snakes.
Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world, Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities, National Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In 4 seconds, you will be redirected to nwfactionfund.org, the site of the National Wildlife Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) organization. They primarily feed on amphibians and fish and are often seen basking on banks of rivers or ponds or on branches overhanging the water.