Fauna
Reptile

Plain-bellied Watersnake

Nerodia erythrogaster

Also known as Plainbelly Water Snake, Red-bellied Watersnake, Copperbelly Water Snake, Yellow-bellied Watersnake

Plain-bellied watersnakes are heavy-bodied aquatic serpents celebrated for their plain, unpatterned red, yellow, or cream undersides that contrast sharply with dark dorsal scales. Unusually terrestrial for watersnakes, they frequently travel overland between wetlands and typically flee across dry ground rather than diving into water when startled. Females give live birth in late summer to litters of over twenty patterned juveniles that hunt tadpoles along shallow marsh margins.

Semi-aquaticViviparousCarnivorous
Plain-bellied Watersnake reference
(c) Mila Turov, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySouthern leopard frog, American toad, Bullfrog tadpole
Predators
  • Great blue heron
  • Raccoon
  • Eastern kingsnake
ThreatsWetland draining, habitat fragmentation, persecution due to confusion with venomous snakes, and vehicular mortality
HabitatsSwamps, sluggish streams, floodplain lakes, farm ponds, and wet meadows
Life span8–12 years
Classification
  1. FamilyColubridae
  2. GenusNerodia
  3. SpeciesNerodia erythrogaster
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Non-venomous, but bites repeatedly and releases foul musk if cornered or handled; observe from a distance.
Why it is dangerous
Possesses sharp, backward-curving teeth capable of inflicting painful, bleeding lacerations, accompanied by copious foul-smelling musk and anticoagulant saliva.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognize by the unpatterned yellow or orange-red belly, round pupils, and absence of facial heat pits.
What to do
Maintain several paces of distance and let the snake retreat uninterrupted across land or back into water.
Responsible observation
  • Basking Habits: Look for them draped over low tree limbs or logs directly above swamp waters on warm spring mornings.
  • Handling Precaution: Do not attempt to catch or corner them, as they defend themselves vigorously with multiple sharp bites and foul-smelling musk.
Related species
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