Missouri aquatic snakes

Snake Facts. Salamander Facts. Lizard Facts. Amphibian and Reptile Facts. Skip to main content. Google Tag Manager. Northern Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus. More Reptiles and Amphibians. Jim Rathert. Other Common Name :. Family :. Viperidae venomous snakes in the order Squamata lizards and snakes. Description :. Size :. Video of a western cottonmouth in the wild. Northern Cottonmouth User submitted photo.

Habitat and conservation :. Foods :. Distribution in Missouri :. Status :. Life cycle :. Human connections :. Ecosystem connections :. The midland watersnake subspecies lives in the southern and eastern third.

The two overlap and intergrade. In hot weather, they are nocturnal. They hide under rocks or other objects along the edge of rivers and ponds. They live in and near a wide variety of aquatic habitats: creeks, rivers, sloughs, ponds, lakes, and swamps. Watersnakes eat fish mostly nongame species , frogs, tadpoles, toads, and salamanders. Game fish are too agile for watersnakes to catch, unless the fish is injured or diseased. Herpetologists create official common names that correspond precisely with scientific names.

This species is active from early April until October. Courtship and mating occur in the spring, and gestation may last months.

The young are born live during August and September. A litter can contain young, usually averaging The young are light gray or tan, contrasting with dark brown or black crossbands and blotches, and at birth they are about inches long.

Some females may produce a litter every other year. Watersnakes were formerly killed under the mistaken belief that they ate game fish. In reality, they improve fishing by eating dead or dying fish preventing the spread of fish diseases , by reducing fish overpopulation, and by providing food for game species large game fish eat young watersnakes.

As predators, watersnakes control populations of the animals they consume. But snakes are preyed upon themselves. Their defenseless newborns are eaten by animals ranging from large frogs and fish to other snakes and birds and mammals. Adults are eaten by predatory mammals and birds. Northern Watersnake. Field Guide Aquatic Invertebrates. Butterflies and Moths. Land Invertebrates. Reptiles and Amphibians. These snakes are also non-venomous, live near bodies of water, and feed on fish and amphibians.

Scientific name: Nerodia fasciata confluens Length : 22 — 36 in Venomous : No. One of three recognized subspecies of the Southern Water Snake, Nerodia fasciata , the Broad-banded Water Snake is limited to the southeast corner of Missouri according to this range map. They are one of the smaller water snakes in Missouri, only reaching about 2 or 3 feet in length. The large, irregular-shaped bands on their back are typically reddish-brown or black separated by gray or yellow making them quite unique.

Though unfortunately like other water snakes they are still commonly mistaken for Water Moccasins and needlessly killed. They are non-venomous , though like other water snakes Broad-banded Water Snakes can emit a strong smelling musk from the base of their tail. They will also defend themselves fiercely if they feel threatened by you.

Scientific name: Regina grahamii Length : 18 — 28 in Venomous : No. They get their name because not only are freshly molted crayfish their favorite food, but they also live in and spend their winters in abandoned crayfish burrows. Scientific name: Nerodia cyclopion Length : 30 — 45 in Venomous : No.

Probably among the least common water snakes in Missouri, the Mississippi Green Water Snake has a range restricted to the southeastern corner of the state. They are mostly greenish-brown in color with yellow half-moon shaped markings on their backs. Mostly due to habitat loss, they have an endangered status in Missouri. The Mississippi Green Water Snake prefers living in swamps where it feeds on frogs, fish, salamanders, crayfish, and other swamp life. Scientific name: Farancia abacura reinwardtii Length : 40 — 54 in Venomous : No.

Like several other species of water snakes in Missouri, this snake is found only in Southeastern Missouri.