Southern Water Snake

Southern Water Snake
Photograph by Public Health Image Library (PHIL). License: Public Domain. (view image details)
BANDED WATER SNAKE FACTS ...

Southern Water Snake Nerodia fasciata ssp. Common across southern portions of Coastal Plain. Inhabits most permanently aquatic habitats, especially sinkhole ponds and streams with abundant vegetation. Includes subspecies N. f.

The Broad-banded Water Snake is a subspecies of the Southern Water Snake. It is a medium-bodied species. As the name suggests, the Broad-banded Water Snake is patterned with dark, broad bands.

Until recently, they were classified as a subspecies of the southern water snake (Nerodia fasciata). It has recently been shown that there is very limited gene flow with the between the two populations; they are now classified as a separate species.

See also: Water Snake, Snake, Reptile, Cottonmouth, Musk