Watersnake
Brazos River Watersnake
HarmlessNerodia harteri
The Brazos River Watersnake (Nerodia harteri) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Also called
- Watersnake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Heavy-bodied, 2–4.5 ft.
- Habitat
- Lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps, and ditches.
- Behavior
- Strong swimmers that flee into water but will bite and musk if cornered. Very frequently mistaken for cottonmouths.
- Identify
- Heavy banded or blotched body, round pupils, and a narrow head — unlike the cottonmouth's broad, blocky head.
About the Brazos River Watersnake
The Brazos water snake (Nerodia harteri), also called commonly Harter's water snake, is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Texas in the United States.
Geographic range
Nerodia harteri is found only in Central Texas in the Brazos River system.
Habitat
The preferred habitat of N. harteri is rocky areas along the Brazos River.
Conservation status
Due to its limited range, N. harteri is considered to be a near-threatened species in Texas.
Etymology
The specific name or epithet, harteri, is in honor of American amateur herpetologist Philip Harter, who collected the first specimen in Palo Pinto County in 1936.
Description
The Brazos water snake grows to a total length (including tail) of 16 to 32 inches (41–81 cm), 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.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Brazos River Watersnake
- Is the Brazos River Watersnake venomous?
- No. The Brazos River Watersnake (Nerodia harteri) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Brazos River Watersnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Brazos River Watersnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Brazos River Watersnake dangerous?
- The Brazos River Watersnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Brazos River Watersnake live?
- The Brazos River Watersnake has verified records in 1 country, including United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Brazos River Watersnake?
- Heavy banded or blotched body, round pupils, and a narrow head — unlike the cottonmouth's broad, blocky head.
- How big does the Brazos River Watersnake get?
- Heavy-bodied, 2–4.5 ft.
- Why is it called the Brazos River Watersnake?
- The specific name or epithet, harteri, is in honor of American amateur herpetologist Philip Harter, who collected the first specimen in Palo Pinto County in 1936.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
Snakes it is confused with
Eastern CopperheadVenomousHarmless watersnakes are sometimes mistaken for copperheads near water; watersnakes have round pupils and banded, not hourglass, markings.
Brazos River Watersnake vs Eastern Copperhead→
Northern CottonmouthVenomousHarmless watersnakes are constantly mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth. Watersnakes have round heads and round pupils and flee into the water.
Brazos River Watersnake vs Northern Cottonmouth→
More Colubridae snakes
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
Plain-bellied WatersnakeNerodia erythrogaster
Banded WatersnakeNerodia fasciata
Diamondback WatersnakeNerodia rhombifer
Brown WatersnakeNerodia taxispilota
Florida Green WatersnakeNerodia floridana
Saltmarsh SnakeNerodia clarkii
Mississippi Green WatersnakeNerodia cyclopion
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Nerodia
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Nerodia harteri
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.