The Diamondback Water Snake occurs throughout the eastern 2/3 of Texas. Outside of Texas, it ranges southward throughout northeastern Mexico and northeastward throughout Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and in parts of Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, western Kentucky and western Tennessee. Like other snakes of the genus Nerodia, it is an aquatic species seldom found far from a source of water such as marshes, swamps, bayous, creeks, ponds, drainage ditches and flooded rice fields where it feeds on small aquatic creatures such as fish, tadpoles, frogs, toads and occasionally crayfish. It has a dark chainlike pattern on a dirty grayish or brown background with a yellow belly that is marked with darker half-moon shaped spots. Adult males of this species are unique in that they have numerous raised protuberances under the chin. The scales are keeled and the anal plate is divided. Adults typically reach 30 to 46 inches in length. The record size for the Diamondback Water Snake is 63 inches. In typical water snake fashion, when threatened or provoked, the Diamondnack Water Snake often displays a very aggressive and nasty disposition.
Diamondback Water Snake - Nerodia rhombifer rhombifer from Collin Co.,Tx.
Photo by Vicki Ewing
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