Nerodia rhombifera
The Diamondback Water Snake
is a beautifully patterned non-poisonous snake. The almost triangular shape of it's head can be deceiving to the novice and it is often confused with water moccasins. It's round eyes, lack of pits above the eyes and long, thinner tail distinguish it from the venomous Cottonmouth Moccasin.
Diamondbacked Water Snakes in our Habitat
Since our wildlife habitat is located along the Tchefuncte River, we often see many water snakes, but the largest and most interesting one that lives around the river is the Diamondback Water Snake. This snake can grow to 63 inches and we have several this size. They mate in the spring and have live young from early August to late October.We have been lucky enough to photograph this attractive snake both in and out of the water. They like to bask in the sun on over hanging branches or cling to a submerged branch to lie in wait while hunting. Where we live, these skillful hunters eat primarily fish and we have observed one grab a 2 pound catfish and take it to the shore to eat it. The snake worked to try to swallow the fish for hours, until it finally gave up and tried for a perch.
Unfortunately, this beautiful, non-poisonous snake is sometimes killed because of its slightly triangular head, the untrained mistake it for the venomous Copperhead or Water Moccasin. The photos below (from "The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana" by Harold A. Dundee and Douglas A Rossman) show the difference between the heads of the snakes.
A. Diamond-backed water snake, Nerodia rhombifera
C. Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix
D. Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus
A Water Snake's Year
A Water Snake's Year
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Diamondback Water Snake Facts
The Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer) is a common species of water snake found throughout much of the central United States and northern Mexico. It is non-venomous and a member of the colubrid family. There are three recognized subspecies of N. rhombifer. The species was first described as Tropidonotus rhombifera by Edward Hallowell in 1852.
Water Snakes of North America
Water Snakes of North America
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Snakes Duel
What do you think about Water Snakes?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byWater Snakes are fascinating creatures!
rio1 says:
These are beautiful snakes and they get very large, but they are harmless.
Posted January 23, 2009
I try not to think about them.
Diamond-back Water Snake Sunning on a Log
Diamond-back Water Snake Photos
The Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer) is a common species of water sna...
This Diamondback Water Snake is nonpoisonous but they do say that it is very agg...
Big Lake WMA, Arkansas ww...
(N. rhombifer)
This Diamondback Water Snake is nonpoisonous but they do say that it is very agg...
The Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer) is a common species of water sna...
Diamond-back Watersnake "Fishing"
Fishing Photos - The Big One Got Away!
Diamond-back hooked its tail around a branch & is very still with its nostrils out of the water.
Snakes of the U.S. & Canada
Snakes of the United States and Canada
Amazon Price: $60.67 (as of 07/06/2009)
Diamond-back Water Snake YouTube
Water Snakes on Zazzle
To see more designs, please visit our Naturally Native Creations Gallery
Other Louisiana Snakes Lenses
-
Ribbon and Garter Snakes
-
Garter and Ribbon snakes are beneficial, non-poisonous snakes. Garter Snakes are welcomed into gardens because they eat small rodents, snails, slugs and harmful insects among other things. There are several different species that inhabit Louisiana. M...
-
Kingsnakes of Louisiana
-
Since we were children we have welcomed the gentle, non-poisonous Kingsnakes into our yard. Kingsnakes are constrictors that live in many types of habitat, but seem to prefer ridges and levees that border wet areas. They will kill and eat poisonous...
-
Black Racer Snake
-
Black Racers are very fast black snakes with a bluish cast to their scales. Other names for this handsome, non-venomous snake are Blue Racer, Blue Runner and Black Runner. The Southern Black Racer occurs in habitats all over Louisiana and through mo...
-
Cottonmouth Moccasin Snake
-
The Cottonmouth (which used to be called Cottonmouth Moccasin or Water Moccasin) is a venomous semi-aquatic snake. It is one of the five species of pit viper that inhabits Louisiana. It is also the only semi-aquatic viper in the world. The name, Cott...
-
Snakes of Louisiana
-
Snakes are probably one of the most controversial animals. You either love them or hate them. Snakes are a very important link in the food chain and without them our earth would be overrun with vermin and harmful insects. Here in Louisiana there are...
-
Broad-banded Watersnake of Louisiana
-
The Broad-banded is the only species of Banded Watersnake that lives in Louisiana. They are found in bodies of water all over Louisiana and the Southeastern United States. Unfortunately, these stout non-poisonous watersnakes with colorful bellies, a...
-
Yellow-bellied Water Snakes
-
Plain-bellied Water snakes are found in every southeastern state in the U.S. They are stout snakes with dark brown, gray or greenish gray backs and bellies that range in color from yellow to red. In Louisiana, the Yellow-bellied and blotched water s...
-
Hognose Snake in Louisiana
-
The Eastern Hognose Snake is a most unusual reptile with some very unique defense mechanisms, including puffing up like a cobra and playing dead. Although it is considered non-poisonous, in that it does not have fangs, it's saliva sometimes causes a...
-
Rat Snakes in Louisiana
-
Rat Snakes are attractively marked, non-poisonous constrictors which primarily eat rats and mice and some birds and eggs. They are known for their climbing ability and their great length which can be up to 101 inches. In the south they are called Ch...
-
Ring-necked Snake of Louisiana
-
The Ring-necked Snake is a small, harmless snake that lives in forested areas all over the Southeastern United States. It spends most of the daylight hours hiding under logs, but is active at night during the warm months of the year. Ring-necked Sna...
-
Rough Green Snake
-
The Rough Green Snake is the only type of Green Snake that inhabits Louisiana. It is a slim, medium sized, non-poisonous snake, which is bright green in color. Rough Green snakes are egg layers and are excellent climbers.
Snake Facts from Wiki
Snakes are elongate legless carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Like lizards, from which they evolved, they have loosely articulated skulls and most can swallow prey much larger than their own head. In order to accommodate their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side, and most have only one functional lung. Some species retain a pelvic girdle with a pair of vestigial claws on either side of the cloaca.
Living snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica. Fifteen families are currently recognized comprising 456 genera and over 2,900 species.Colubridae species list at the TIGR Reptile Database. Accessed 4 December 2008. They range in size from the tiny, 10 cm long thread snake to pythons and anacondas of up to 7.6 m (25 ft) in length. The recently discovered fossil Titanoboa was 13 m or 43 ft long. Snakes are thought to have evolved from either burrowing or aquatic lizards during the Cretaceous period (c 150 Ma). The diversity of modern snakes appeared during the Paleocene period (c 66 to 56 Ma).
Most species are non-venomous and those that have venom use it primarily to kill and subdue prey rather than for self-defense. Some possess venom potent enough to cause painful injury or death to humans.
Best of Naturally Native Squids Blog RSS Feed
Features outstanding lenses about nature, animals, native plants, gardening (especially ecologically healthy gardening), green living and all things natural.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWater Snake Blog Posts
- Diamondback Water Snake, Kansas on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- Diamondback Water Snake Nerodia rhombifer near Eureka, Kansas; Eureka County taken 18 May 2009 about 9:04pm side of road after sunset juvenile, about 16 inches This is first time that I've photographed this species. 096a08.
- Diamondback Water Snake - Honey Island, LA
- The tree branches hanging over the river were loaded with these snakes since they had just emerged from hibernation and it was breeding time. Unfortunately from a photographic point of view. seeing them was one thing; focusing on them ...
- The Feathered Quill: Venom Week! Snakes Part II
- Diamondback water snakes are predominantly brown, dark brown, or dark olive green in color, with a black net-like pattern along their back, with each spot being vaguely diamond shaped. Dark vertical bars and lighter coloring are often ...
- Water Snake
- NaturalLight postou uma foto: Water Snake. A baby water snake out for a swim. Any ID help would be appreciated. Diamondback Water Snake?
Garter Snakes & Water Snakes Care
The General Care And Maintenance Of Garter Snakes And Water Snakes (The Herpetocultural Library. Series 200)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
Little Tchefuncte Habitat Blog RSS Feed
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWater Snakes on Amazon
Slip in a comment.
AbbasAbedi wrote...
Excellent Lens. 5*
If you get a chance check out my Instant Stress Management lens.
Posted June 05, 2009
aj2008 wrote...
I'm not sure how I would feel having so many snakes around me as in the UK we dont see them often. However, this is another amazing "nature" lens and well deserving of the blessing I have just given it.
Posted April 25, 2009
AndyPo wrote...
Excellent lens. Very interesting. I'm a big fan of reptiles of all sorts.
Posted November 16, 2008
Links to More Snakes
Add Your Own
Venombyte.com - Venomous Links
Venomous Links0 points
Checklist of Species
0 points
by naturegirl7
My husband and I have always loved nature and the outdoors. We currently maintain a 9 acre private wildlife preserve and are Master Gardeners and offi... (more) 
