Northern Watersnake

The word Nerodia is likely derived from greek mythology (the sea nymph Nereis). The name sipedon is a bit misleading as it signifies decay or rot, in this case probably thought to be caused by a bite from this snake. As this snake is not venemous, the name was probably a misnomer. The word pleuralis refers to the evident banding on the side of the midland watersnake subspecies.

A relatively heavy bodied snake that generally grows to around 3ft. with a maximum length of close to 4ft. The head is distinct from its neck, and its scales are keeled. The coloration of both subspecies can be very variable, making it difficult to tell them apart in areas where they both inhabit and integradation occurs. Adults of the northern subspecies, Nerodia sipedon, tend to be quite dark gray or brown, with even darker bands. The space in between each band is quite narrow. Some northern individuals have obvious red markings on their sides, while others appear uniformly dark. The bands on the southern subspecies, N. s. pleuralis, tend to be more obvious and the overall color is lighter. These snakes tend to be light brown or gray in coloration with darker brown or mahogony bands. The space in between each band is quite wide on the sides of this snake and is often wider than the actual bands. Belly coloration is equally as variable in northern watersnakes as the dorsal pattern. The typical ventral pattern of Nerodia sipedon is a set of red half moon markings. N. s. pleuralis seems to exhibit less markings than its northern counterpart. Many individuals I have found had little ventral markings, and some had a red or yellow tinge with no markings at all. Throughout the central part of the state I have seen individuals exhibiting many different characteristics typical of both subspecies.

Juveniles have obvious banding, usually appearing black and white, sometimes with some brown.

This snake occurs throughout the state and is the most common snake in aquatic habitats. Pure Nerodia s. sipedon occur in the northern part of the state while N. s. pleuralis occurs in the south. A large portion of the state seems to be relatively unpredictable as both species occur in various areas and integrade quite often. Throughout the central part of the state it is almost pointless to attempt to assign watersnakes to a specific subspecies.

This snake occurs in nearly every form of aquatic habitat in the state. They are abundant in rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds where there are rocks, logs, or vegetation to bask on. Juveniles are often found under rocks around creeks and rivers. They can also be found in marshes and swamps.

Watersnakes spend much of their time basking. I have observed large numbers of these snakes in logjams in rivers as well as on trees and bushes that overhang the water. These snakes seem to bask often during spring and early summer, but I have still seen many under rocks and in the water during the hotter months. These snakes are excellent swimmers and can stay under the water for quite some time. My dad once told me that when he was fishing one day he spotted a watersnake just sitting at the bottom of the river; completely still, but not dead. I have had to wait for 5-10 minutes for some individuals to surface after hiding under a heavy underwater rock.

These snakes feed on a wide variety of vertabrates. They seem to feed quite often on fish and I once observed one in Franklin County in the act of swallowing a huge catfish. At another time, in Wayne County I witnessed a large adult trying to swallow a large sunfish with much difficulty. I have also known them to take tadpoles and frogs with regularity. I once caught a watersnake in a small pool near a lake in Union County. upon picking him up, he quickly regurgitated around 6 tadpoles; the first 3 of which were still alive and swam away. Another large adult I found in Wayne County regurgitated a bullfrog. Salamanders are likely eaten in small rocky creeks. I have even heard that watersnakes may prey on very young turtles.

The ironic part of the life of this species is its transition from prey to predator. When young, watersnakes are often eaten by large fish and bullfrogs, but as they grow larger, this species begins to feed heavily on frogs and fish. Wading birds, such as herons are also an important predator for this snake.