Family: Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes view all from this family

Description 22-62 1/2" (56-158.8 cm). Stout-bodied aquatic snake with dark crossbands over most of the body. Color and pattern highly variable, like Northern Water Snake; where ranges overlap, presence of dark stripe from eye to angle of mouth and large squarish blotches or wormlike markings on belly scales will identify the Southern. Some darken with age, obscuring pattern. Scales keeled, in 21-25 rows. Anal plate divided.

Warning All water snakes in the genus Nerodia will bite if harassed. Their bite is not venomous. The Southern is commonly mistaken for the venomous Cottonmouth. It defends itself vigorously when disturbed.

Subspecies Banded (N. f. fasciata), red, brown, or black crossbands, most darken with age, squarish spots on belly; coastal plain, North Carolina to Florida panhandle west to sw. Alabama.
Broad-banded (N. f. confluens), 11-17 broad dark crossbands, irregularly shaped yellow interspaces, large squarish blotches on belly; w. Alabama to e. Texas, north in Mississippi River Valley to extreme s. Illinois.
Florida (N. f. pictiventris), dark spots on side, wormlike red or black markings on belly; peninsular Florida; intergrades with Banded in panhandle and se. Alabama; introduced into Brownsville, Texas.

Breeding Live-bearing. Mates January to February in extreme southerly parts of range. 2-57 young, 7-10 1/2" (18-27 cm) long, are born June to August.

Habitat Freshwater situations; permanent lakes, ponds, cypress swamps, marshes, and sluggish streams; occasionally enters brackish water.

Range Coastal plain, North Carolina to Florida Keys, west to e. Texas; north in Mississippi River Valley to extreme s. Illinois.

Discussion Fond of sunning, but active mostly at night after heavy rains when frogs are moving about. In cool weather it is often found under vegetative debris. Feeds on frogs, tadpoles, and fish. Interbreeds extensively with Northern Water Snake in some parts of its range.