Description: The plain-bellied water snake is a large, thick-bodied, mostly patternless snake, with a generally beige underside. Some snakes display a thin, white line between the pale belly and their darker top scales. Subspecies can range from dark brown, gray, and olive-green to greenish-gray or blackish in color. Some lighter-colored individuals have dark dorsal patterns. Plain-bellied water snakes can be distinguished from other water snakes by their “plain”, patternless undersides, which vary in color from light reddish hues to beige; this is where they get the common name “plain-bellied”, as they typically have no notable markings on their bellies.
Habitat: The snakes are almost always found near a permanent freshwater source, usually several feet deep, and not necessarily clear or fast-moving waters, either. They can often be observed resting on branches or foliage directly over the water, for an easy escape route. In their natural geographic range, the snakes are adapted to a wetland lifestyle, often found at or near creeks, rivers, swamps, floodplains, lakes, and ponds, as well as man-made reservoirs, dams, and canals.
Range: Plain-bellied water snakes are found in every southeastern state of the U.S., except for the higher elevations in the Appalachian Mountains (thus excluding them from eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina). On the east coast, they are found across Florida, north to southeastern Virginia, as well as western Tennessee. They are found at lower elevations from Georgia and west across the Gulf States, extending as far west as Oklahoma and Texas.
Diet: The species finds the bulk of its prey in the water. They feed primarily on tadpoles, small amphibians, fish, crayfish and other crustaceans, aquatic insects (like water beetles), hatchling turtles and carrion. Because of the amount of time they spend on land, the snake's diet includes a large quantity of amphibians, mostly toads and frogs. Like most other snakes, it will actively hunt for prey, but this species has also been observed submerged underwater and lying in wait for prey to approach.
Reproduction: This species bears live young (ovoviviparous) like other North American water snakes and garter snakes. The snake breeds from April until mid-June in the southeast U.S. The female gives birth during the months from August to September. Large broods have been observed, but a typical litter size is around eighteen. One female was observed with a litter of fifty five hatchlings in North Carolina. In 2014 a captive female produced two healthy offspring via parthenogenesis.
Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category. The disjunct Mexican populations are likely threatened due to their extremely limited area of occupancy and dependence on water.
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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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