Harter's Water Snake
(Nerodia harteri)
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Harter's Water Snake (Nerodia harteri) |
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Color Photograph: © by and courtesy of David Hillis
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Nerodia paucimaculata The Concho Water Snake is restricted to the Concho and Colorado Rivers of Texas. Spots on the sides of the belly are weak to absent.
Nerodia rhombifera Back and sides with a distinct pattern of diamonds.
Nerodia fasciata Sides of body with broad light yellow to red stripes. Harter's Water Snake (Nerodia harteri) Identification: Snake 16 to 32 inches in length. A non-descript species with vague markings. Color variable ranging from greenish brown to gray. Each side with two rows of darker blotches. Belly pink to orange with a a row of dark spots along either side. Dorsal scale rows with 21 to 25 scales near the mid-part of the body. Scales keeled and anal plate divided. Geographical Variation: None. Range (see map on left): Hater's Water Snake is endemic to the drainage of the Brazos River in north-central Texas. Habitat: This species is found along the shorelines and in the water of streams and rivers. The young require riffles in the shallow waters of fast-flowing streams. Food: Small fish. Behavior: Hater's Water Snake is diurnal and is commonly found along the banks of small streams or in shallow water. Young hide under rocks. Adults use woody vegetation along the banks of the stream to bask on. Reproduction: Species of the genus Nerodia are viviparous bearing young. Females bear 8 to 22 young in September and October. |
Hater's Water Snake (Nerodia harteri)
Similar Species: Concho Water Snake (Nerodia paucimaculata) Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifera) Southern Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata) |
Similar Species |
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