The brown water snake feeds primarily on fish, particularly juvenile catfish, it's a piscivorous species. This north American species is not to be confused with the South African common brown water snake ( Lycodonomorphus rufulus ), which are also sometimes called brown water snake. The species is also known by other common names including false moccasin, pied water snake, southern water snake, aspic, water-pilot, great water snake and water rattler. This misidentification leads the killing of many of these and also other harmless water snakes. Down its back it as a row of large blackish or darker brown square blotches which alternate with rows of blotches on each side of the body. Their belly color is usually light yellow to brown marked with black or dark brown splotches and black crescents.ĭue to their habitat, color, pattern and somewhat triangular shaped head, the brown water snake is often mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth or water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Like the name indicates the brown water snake colors range from light to dark brown. Much like crocodiles and alligators both their eyes and nostrils are located at the top of the head, enabling these snakes to easily breath and see on the surface of the water. The brown watersnake has strongly keeled scales with 25 to 33 dorsal scale rows at midbody and a divided anal plate. The brown water snake is a large fairly heavy-bodied semi-aquatic snake species with a large head much wider than the neck. It ranges in length from 28 to 69 inches (71 to 175 cm), with females being larger than males. If threatened they will just fall into the water to escape, this means that sometimes they land on a boat of an innocent fisherman. If captured, the brown water snake, will bite repeatedly and emit a nasty smelling musk in its attempt to escape. They are less prone to travel over land than other watersnake species for that reason the brown water snake is seldom found far from the edge of the water. They usually bask during the daytime on tree branches and vegetation overhanging the water, sometimes as high as 20 ft above the water. These semi-aquatic snakes may be found in a variety of flowing water aquatic habitats. They commonly inhabit lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, blackwater cypress swamps and waterways, canals and drainage ditches.īrown water snakes are also common around sawgrass prairies, bottomland forests and margins of brackish tidal marshes.They are especially fond of habitats where overhanging vegetation can be found, but also emergent snags, or rocky river banks where they may bask in the sun. Usually found from sea level up to 500 feet (150 m) of altitude. These snakes are also one of the most common Florida snakes, living alongside some infamous invasive snake species like the burmese python ( Python bivittatus) or the reticulated python ( Malayopython reticulatus).
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