Description:
The Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata fasciata) and the Florida Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata
pictiventris) is a medium sized thick bodied aquatic snake. Its typical color pattern is a black background with dark
brown to red bands. This is more prevalent in juveniles while adult are more like to loose their pattern. There are two subspecies
native to Georgia which are the Florida Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris) and the Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata
fasciata). Both look almost identical except the Florida Water Snake are usually redder.
The average length for both subspecies is between 2ft to 3ft long. The max record for the Banded Water Snake is at 5ft while
the max record for the Florida Water Snake is just over
5ft at 62 inches.
Habitat:
Both the Florida and Banded Water Snakes can be found in any aquatic habitat in their range which
includes swamps, on the edges on ponds which they are found basking on tree over hanging, lakes, marshes, on edges of rivers
and streams, even on a few barrier islands.
Prey:
The Banded Water Snake mostly feeds
on fish, frogs, and salamanders.
Abundance and Behavior:
The Banded Water Snake and the Florida water snakes are very common. The Banded Water Snake can be
found in anywhere south of the Fall line that which is bordering Macon,
Ga. The Florida
water snake is found in only a few counties in the extreme southeastern portion of the state. They both are Diurnal (come
out during the day) and Nocturnal (comes out at night). The can be found during warm summer night crossing roads especially
after a rain storm. . They can be easily confused with the Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon
piscivorus) because of several reasons. First off they are both heavy body snakes that live in the same habitats. Also
when disturbed the water snake will make its head as triangular as possible, open its mouth, and strike repeatedly. Most of
the time though they will try to get in the closest body of water and disappear under rocks and mud. If in a tree branch the
water snake will dive immediately into the water and swim away.
