Description: A small- to medium-sized, shiny snake reaching a maximum total length of 31.4 inches. Dorsum of head, body, and tail uniformly chocolate brown with 2 thin, black, almost indistinguishable stripes on either side of midline; venter cream with 2 rows of black spots or half moons on either side of midline; stripes absent or diffuse on tail; cream pigmentation on venter encroaches on 1st dorsal scale row and fades into brown; the lighter centers on 1st scale row give appearance of forming a lateral stripe-some individuals are darker than others in this region but distinct striping is not present; labial scales white; oblique black lines on lateral portion of neck (may be indistinct in some individuals); some chin scales outlined in black. This is a small- to medium-sized, dark, shiny water snake with large eyes and a somewhat blunt snout. The 3 subspecies are very difficult to differentiate; use range. This is the only of the 3 subspecies to have dark lines on the sides of the throat

Habitat: These snakes are highly aquatic, and prefers slow moving or still waterways such as swamps, marches, lakes, ponds, ditches, and rivers. They are rarely encountered outside of the water, and frequently are seen under logs or debris in water. They can be found in crayfish burrows as well.

Range: This snake’s range extends down from Virginia to the coast of northern Florida.

Found in these States: FL | GA | NC | SC | VA

Diet: The main food for these snakes are crayfish, leading to them getting their name Crayfish Snake. They can have other prey such as small fishes, salamanders, frogs, and other arthropods.

Reproduction: Mating season starts in early May to late June. And then they give birth in the late summer or early fall. These snakes do not lay eggs, but rather has live births. They give birth between 6 to 14 young per birth. The young will have the same coloration as the adults but will be a pinkish color. The juveniles tend to be 6 to 7 inches long when born.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a degree of habitat modification, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Taxonomy: