Family: Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes view all from this family
Description 30-63" (76.2-160 cm). Heavy-bodied; greenish-brown to brown with large dark netlike pattern formed of dark blotches on back, connected with alternating dark bars on sides. Yellow belly with largest dark spots along sides. Scales keeled, in 25-31 rows. Anal plate divided. Males have pimplelike bumps on chin scales.
Warning The Diamondback Water Snake can be quick to bite if provoked and is capable of inflicting numerous small lacerations, but its bite in not venomous. This behavior, coupled with its habitat, often results in Diamondbacks being misidentified as poisonous Cottonmouths.
Subspecies There are three subspecies of Diamondback Water Snake; only 1 in our range: Northern (N. r. rhombifera).
Breeding Mates in spring; 14-62 young, 9-13" (23-33 cm) long, are born August to October.
Habitat Margins of lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, marshes, canals, ditches, and ponds.
Range S. Illinois and Indiana south along the Mississippi River drainage to Mississippi and sc. Alabama, west to sc. Texas and Mexico, north through Oklahoma, Kansas, and n. Missouri.
Discussion Active in daytime and often seen basking in spring on logs and brush along the water's edge. On warm summer nights, it is frequently found feeding on fishes and frogs.
