Blotched Water Snake

Blotched Water Snake, Nerodia erythrogaster transversa

The non-venomous blotched water snake is the predominant water snake in Texas. A subspecies of plain-bellied water snake, it differs from the visually similar other subspecies, the yellow-bellied water snake, as the blotched water snake has marks along the back. As they age, they darken and can also often be confused with the similarly stout-bodied western cottonmouth. Unlike the western cottonmouth, both the yellow-bellied water snake and blotched water snake have yellow lips with dark labial sutures. Adult blotched water snakes may reach up to 1 m (3 ft) in length. The females may give birth to anywhere between 8 to 30 live young. While the young can be found in small, shallow streams and inlets of larger bodies of water, the adults are generally found in any watercourse or major riparian corridors. Blotched water snakes will often anchor themselves on a stick or rock and prey on various fish and frogs.