The Blotched Water Snake occurs from northeastern Mexico across much of Texas northward throughout Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas, eastern Missouri and extreme northwestern Arkansas. It is also found in extreme southeastern New Mexico. In Texas, it occurs from the Coastal Bend Region northward throughout central, southeastern, north and parts of west Texas, including the panhandle. It is an aquatic species and like other snakes of the genus Nerodia, it seldom ventures far from a source of water such as marshes, swamps, bayous, rivers, creeks, ponds, or drainage ditches, where it feeds on small aquatic creatures such as fish, tadpoles, frogs, and toads. Adults typically reach 30 to 48 inches in length. The record size for the Blotched Water Snake is 58 inches. Like other water snakes, when threatened or provoked, the Blotched Water Snake sometimes displays a very aggressive and nasty disposition.
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