Description: Heavy-bodied; greenish-brown to brown with large dark netlike pattern formed of dark blotches on the back, connected with alternating dark bars on the sides. Yellow underside with largest dark spots along the sides. The scales are keeled in 25 - 31 rows with the anal plate being divided. Males have pimplelike bumps on the chin scales.
Habitat: Margins of lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, marshes, canals, ditches, and ponds.
Breeding: Mates in Spring. 14 to 62 young, that are 9" to 13" long, are born from August to October.
Range: Southern Illinois and Indiana south along the Mississippi River drainage to Mississippi and south central Alabama, west to south central Texas and Mexico, north through Oklahoma, Kansas, and northern Missouri.
Diet: Main diet consists of fishes and frogs
Behavior: Active in daytime and often seen basking in spring on logs and brush along the water's edge. On warm summer nights, it is frequently found hunting for prey. It is quick to bite and capable of inflicting numerous lacerations.
Conservation Status: The major concern is destruction and degradation of aquatic habitat, but this snake is not threatened in most of its large range. Declines in xeric regions of Mexico have been attributed to pollution or water diversion for human use. This snake is vulnerable to pesticide-caused mortality, and historical declines in abundance probably occurred in some agricultural areas. Pesticides that persist in the environment for long periods of time may still be affecting some populations. Some currently used pesticides may be causing watersnake mortality. This species readily colonies reclamation ponds of formerly mined areas if suitable habitat is adjacent. Individuals are frequently killed intentionally by humans, but this not a major threat except perhaps where the snake is rare. Fragility: Moderately vulnerable.
Additonal Notes: The aggressive behaviour, coupled with its habitat, often result in the Diamondback Water Snake being misidentified as the venomous Cottonmouth.
Subspecies: 3 only 1 of which is found in our range
