Reptile · GBIF taxon 5223349
Banded Watersnake
Nerodia fasciataAlso known as Southern Water Snake, Banded Water Snake
Banded watersnakes are stout, heavy-bodied reptiles frequently seen basking on limbs or swimming through shallow southern waterways. They hunt fish and amphibians along marsh margins using keen underwater vision and rapid strike capability. When threatened, they flatten their bodies and discharge a pungent cloacal musk, causing frequent confusion with venomous cottonmouths.
AquaticNon-venomousReptile
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Frogs
- Small Fish
- Tadpoles
Predators
- American Alligator
- Great Blue Heron
- Red-shouldered Hawk
ThreatsHabitat degradation, human persecution due to cottonmouth confusion
HabitatsFreshwater marshes, swamps, ponds, streams, rivers
Life span7–10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- SpeciesNerodia fasciata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Non-venomous but strikes repeatedly and musks if cornered; observe safely from a distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Delivers painful, rapid defensive bites and secretes a foul musk when handled, with frequent risk of being misidentified as a venomous pit viper.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for round pupils and smooth, dark facial scales without the dark heat-sensing pit found in pit vipers.
- What to do
- Do not attempt to catch or pin down; allow the snake a clear path to retreat into the water.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Watch quietly from a kayak or shoreline while they bask on overhanging branches.
- Identification: Look for round pupils and continuous dark bands extending down the sides.
- Disturbance: Avoid grasping or cornering them to prevent defensive bites and foul musk.
Dangerous Look-alike (c) kirk gardner, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by kirk gardner · cc-by
Predator no rights reserved, uploaded by Vijay Barve · cc0
Prey "American Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea)" by Greg Schechter is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative Patrick Coin (Patrick Coin) / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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