Richard Bartlett photo.

Scientific name: Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster

Description: Average adult size is 28-48 inches (71.1-121.9 cm), record is 62 inches (157.4 cm). Adults are heavy-bodied with reddish-brown to no patterning on the back. The belly, neck, and labial scales are reddish-orange. The scales are keeled, and there are 23 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juveniles are grayish-brown with distinct dark crossbands and blotches, with pale yellow or pinkish bellies.

  Juvenile redbelly watersnake.
Richard Bartlett photo.

Redbelly watersnake: Left to right: Top view of head; underside of head (chin and throat).

Redbelly watersnake: Left to right: Sideview of head; front (face) view of the head.

Range: In Florida, it is found from the northern peninsula west throughout the panhandle. In the western panhandle it intergrades (interbreeds) with the yellowbelly watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster). Outside of Florida, it is found from southern Alabama northeast along the Atlantic coast to Virginia.

Habitat: Commonly found in rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, and cypress strands.

Comments: . The redbelly watersnake is active mainly during the daytime. During the hot summer months it is active in the early morning, late afternoon, and at night.

It feeds on fishes and frogs.

It is live-bearing. Usually 11-30 young from 9-11.5 inches (22.8-29.2 cm) in length are deposited during the summer.

Comparison with other species: The Mississippi green watersnake (Nerodia cyclopion) and Florida green watersnake (Nerodia floridana) have scales between the eye and the scales on the upper lip. Harmless watersnakes are often confused with the venomous cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti. However, there is no excuse for killing watersnakes out of confusion since cottonmouths can easily be distinguished from watersnakes. The cottonmouth has a triangular shaped head and vertical pupil. If the head is viewed from above, the eyes of cottonmouths cannot be seen while the eyes of watersnakes are visible; cottonmouths have elliptical pupils and watersnakes have round pupils; and cottonmouths have a facial pit between the nostril and the eye, while watersnakes have none.

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