Banded water snake, Black water adder, Black water snake, Brown water snake, Common water snake, Common northern water snake, Eastern water snake, North American water snake, Northern banded water snake, Spotted water snake, Streaked snake, Water pilot, W
The common watersnake (Nerodia sipedon ) is a species of large, nonvenomous, common snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America. It is frequently mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus ).
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Di
DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Se
SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
Pr
PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
Bu
BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
Po
PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
So
SolitaryHi
HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
N
starts withThe Northern water snake is a large, nonvenomous, common snake native to North America. These snakes can be brown, gray, reddish, or brownish-black in color. They have dark crossbands on the neck and dark blotches on the rest of the body. As Northern water snakes age, the color darkens, and the pattern becomes obscure. Some individuals will become almost completely black. The belly also varies in color. It can be white, yellow, or gray. Usually, it also has reddish or black crescents.
Northern water snakes are found throughout eastern and central North America, from southern Ontario and southern Quebec in the north to Texas and Florida in the south. They live near lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and canals; just about anywhere there is freshwater. They also occur in brackish and saltwater habitats.
Northern water snakes are active during the day and at night. They are most often seen basking on stream banks, from which they dive into the water at the slightest disturbance. These snakes are quick to flee from danger, but if cornered or captured, they usually will not hesitate to defend themselves. Larger specimens can inflict a painful bite. During the day, Northern water snakes hunt among plants at the water's edge and at night, they concentrate their hunting on small fish sleeping in shallow water. They hunt using smell and sight. Northern water snakes are solitary creatures, but during the winter they will gather with other snakes in communal dens for hibernation.
Northern water snakes are carnivores. Their diet includes small fish, frogs, worms, leeches, crayfish, salamanders, small birds, and mammals.
Northern water snakes are polygynous meaning that males mate with more than one female. The breeding season usually takes place from April through June. These snakes are ovoviviparous, which means they do not lay eggs like many other snakes. Instead, the mother carries the eggs inside her body and gives birth to free-living young, each one 19-23 cm (7.5-9 in) long. A female may have as many as 30 snakelets at a time, but the average is 8. The gestation period can last around 3-5 months. They are born between August and October. Mothers do not care for their young; as soon as they are born, they are on their own.
There are no major threats to Northern water snakes at present.
According to IUCN, the Northern water snake is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Northern water snakes are important for the environment as they control the populations of their main prey, including fish, and other reptiles.
