Reptile · GBIF taxon 5223350
Nerodia fasciata confluens
Nerodia fasciata confluensAlso known as Broad-banded Watersnake, Banded Water Snake, Southern Water Snake
Broad-banded water snakes inhabit swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams across the central and southern United States. They hunt fish and amphibians along shallow shorelines, often hunting at night during warm summer months. When threatened, these non-venomous reptiles flatten their heads and discharge a pungent musk before delivering energetic defensive bites.
SemiaquaticNonvenomousNocturnal
Licensed reference(c) ncb1221, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Frogs and Tadpoles
- Small Fish
- Salamanders
Predators
- American Alligators
- Great Blue Herons
- Large Predatory Fish
ThreatsHabitat loss, wetland drainage, and human persecution due to confusion with venomous snakes
HabitatsSwamps, marshes, bayous, ponds, and slow-moving rivers
Life span7 to 10 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- SpeciesNerodia fasciata confluens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Non-venomous but flattens its body and bites defensively when cornered; observe from a respectful distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Delivers rapid, repeated bites with sharp recurved teeth when restrained, causing shallow lacerations and potential minor skin infections.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for broad reddish-brown to black bands separated by thin yellow or orange gaps and a dark line from the eye to the corner of the jaw.
- What to do
- Observe from a distance along shorelines; never attempt to pin, catch, or corner wild water snakes.
Responsible observation
- Distinguishing Features: Look for broad, dark red, brown, or black bands separated by narrow yellow or orange spaces along the body.
- Safe Distance: Observe from a few steps away along riverbanks or boardwalks to avoid startling the snake into diving.
- Handling Awareness: Refrain from catching wild individuals, as they readily musk and bite repeatedly in defense.
Look-alike (c) kirk gardner, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by kirk gardner · cc-by
Prey "Green Frog" by AER Wilmington DE 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 (c) B. P. White, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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