Yellowbelly Water Snake
Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster
A plain, dark-backed water snake subspecies with a pale yellow belly, common in bottomland wetlands of the Mississippi Valley and Gulf states.
- Adult length
- 0.75-1.4 m (2.5-4.5 ft)
- Range
- South-central United States (Mississippi Valley region)
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Overview
The Yellowbelly Water Snake is a subspecies of the Redbelly Water Snake complex, found across the lower Mississippi Valley and adjacent Gulf Coast states. It shares the same heavy build and plain-backed appearance as its relatives, differing mainly in the pale yellow tone of its underside.
It is often killed out of mistaken fear, largely due to its size and bluffing displays.
How to identify it
- Solid gray, olive, or brown back, unmarked in adults
- Pale yellow to cream-colored belly, sometimes with faint mottling
- Thick body with strongly keeled scales
- Round pupils and a head only moderately distinct from the neck
- Juveniles show dark crossbands that fade as they mature
Habitat & range
Inhabits swamps, oxbow lakes, sloughs, and slow rivers throughout the Mississippi Valley, Arkansas, Louisiana, and neighboring states, favoring heavily vegetated shorelines.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal forager that hunts fish and amphibians along shallow water edges and basks on overhanging vegetation. Bears live young in mid-to-late summer. Flattens its body and strikes repeatedly when disturbed.
Frequently asked questions
Where is it commonly found?
In wetlands and slow-moving waters of the lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast region.
How can I identify it?
Look for a plain dark back combined with a pale yellow belly and a thick, keeled-scaled body.
What does it eat?
Primarily fish and frogs caught in shallow water.
Yellowbelly Water Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Yellowbelly Water Snake.
