Family: Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes view all from this family

Description 30-74" (76.2-188 cm). Heavy-bodied; olive-green, brownish, or reddish (in south Florida), with indistinct dark bars on sides and back, more distinct in juveniles. Head looks short; series of small scales separate eye from upper lip scales. Belly cream, unmarked. Scales keeled, in 27-29 rows. Anal plate divided.

Warning All water snakes in the genus Nerodia will bite if harassed. Their bite is not venomous.

Breeding Mates March to April; 4-101 young are born June to August; are 8 3/4-10 3/4" (22-27 cm) long.

Habitat Marshes, swamps, ditches, canals, bayous, and estuaries, including Everglades.

Range S. South Carolina to extreme n. Georgia; s. Georgia through Florida, west to tip of panhandle.

Discussion Primarily diurnal, but often active in the early evening feeding on minnows and small fishes. The Florida Green prefers weed-choked marshes, is less inclined to bask, and is somewhat more nocturnal than the Mississippi Green Water Snake.