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Brazos River Water Snake Range Map






Brazos River Water Snake Video




Brazos River Water Snake Juvenile

Home »» Snakes »» Colubridae (Colubrids) »» Brazos River Water Snake (Nerodia harteri)


Brazos River Water Snake (Nerodia harteri)STATUS





Description: The Brazos water snake grows to a total length (including tail) of 16 to 32 inches, and ranges in color from brown to olive green. It has two rows of spots that go down either side of its back, and has a pink or orange underside with dark spots down either side. The Brazos Water Snake is a mix of brown and gray or a green and brown combination. They can be identified by the four rows of dark dorsal spots that run the length of its body, giving it a checkerboard appearance. The snake has a pink or orange-colored belly and its neck is often a yellow or cream color.


Habitat: The Brazos Water Snake enjoys residing in water that is fast-flowing and rocky, and free of dense vegetation, according to University of Texas Press research. This snake takes cover under rocks in water or in vegetation along shore. Juveniles use medium to large, flat rocks on unshaded shores for hiding and rocky shallows for feeding, while adults inhabit rocky riffles as well as a wider range of habitats in pools and lakes


Range: N. harteri is found only in Central Texas in the Brazos River system


Found in these States: TX


Diet: They typically eat small fish but have been recorded eating a variety of salamanders, frogs, and crayfish.


Reproduction: Unfortunately, little is known about the Brazos Water Snake due to its somewhat remote location and its reclusive behavior.


Status: Currently, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has partnered with biologists from Stephen F. Austin State University to provide an updated understanding of the Brazos Water Snake’s population status.


Taxonomy:

»» Kingdom: Animalia - Animals
   »» Phylum: Chordata - Chordates
     »» Subphylum: Vertebrata - Vertebrates
       »» Class: Reptilia - Reptiles
         »» Order: Squamata - Scaled Reptiles
           »» Suborder: Serpentes
             »» Superfamily: Colubroidea
               »» Family: Colubridae - Colubrids
                   »» Genus: Nerodia
                     »» Species: Nerodia harteri - Brazos River Water Snake

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Brazos River Water Snake", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Content may have been omitted from the original, but no content has been changed or extended.

 

 

 

 


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U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics     Venomous Snakebite in the Western United States     Venomous Snakes Of The Southeast     The 10 Most Dangerous Snakes in the United States and Canada



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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
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