Stats

Lifespan: Up to 15 yrs
Size: Medium
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Cathemeral
Social: Solitary
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: North America
Movement: Swimming
Breeding: Live Birth
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Common

About

A thick-bodied, nonvenomous water snake native to the southeastern U.S., marked with dark crossbands over a reddish-brown or gray body that often darkens with age until the pattern is barely visible. It is frequently mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth and killed on sight, despite being harmless and an important predator of fish and amphibians.

Life cycle

1.
hatchling
A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
2.
juvenile
A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
3.
adult
Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Nerodia
Species: Nerodia fasciata