Nerodia sipedon pleuralis

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Nerodia sipedon pleuralis
Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis).JPG
Status TNC T5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Nerodia
Species:
Subspecies:
N. s. pleuralis
Trinomial name
Nerodia sipedon pleuralis
(Cope, 1892) [2]
Synonyms
  • Natrix fasciata pleuralisCope, 1892
  • Natrix sipedon pleuralis
    Conant & Bridges, 1939 [3]
  • Nerodia sipedon pleuralis
    H.M. Smith & Brodie, 1982 [4]

The midland water snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis), a subspecies of the northern water snake ( Nerodia sipedon ), is a nonvenomous natricine snake, which is endemic to North America. [5] [2]

Contents

Geographic range

It is found in the central and southern United States, more specifically, in Alabama, northern Arkansas, northwestern Georgia, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, western Kentucky, southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Missouri, southeastern Oklahoma, northwestern South Carolina, and western and southeastern Tennessee. [6]

Description

Anteriorly, it has a pattern of dark crossbands on a light ground color. Posteriorly, the crossbands are replaced by three rows of alternating squarish blotches. The light spaces between the crossbands or blotches are wider than the dark markings. On the belly, the crescent-shaped markings on the ventrals tend to form two stripe-like series. [7]

The maximum recorded total length for this subspecies is 131 cm (51.5 inches). However, most adults are 56–102 cm (22-40 inches) in total length. [6]

Habitat

This snake lives in wet habitats such as marshes, ponds, streams, and swales. In the Southern United States, it follows river valleys to the Gulf Coast. [6]

Diet

Nerodia sipedon pleuralis has a diet that is similar to other species of water snakes. Juvenile and small adults consume a variety of prey such as fishes, frogs, and salamanders. Adults consume primarily fishes. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Nerodia</i> Genus of reptiles

Nerodia is a genus of nonvenomous colubrid snakes commonly referred to as water snakes due to their aquatic behavior. The genus includes nine species, all native to North America. Five of the species have recognized subspecies.

<i>Pituophis catenifer affinis</i> Subspecies of snake

Pituophis catenifer affinis, commonly known as the Sonoran gopher snake, is a nonvenomous subspecies of colubrid snake that is endemic to the southwestern United States. It is one of six recognized subspecies of the gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer.

<i>Cemophora coccinea</i> Species of snake

Cemophora coccinea, commonly known as the scarlet snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southeastern United States. There are two subspecies of C. coccinea that are recognized as being valid. The Texas scarlet snake was previously considered a subspecies.

<i>Nerodia rhombifer</i> Species of snake

Nerodia rhombifer, commonly known as the diamondback water snake, is a species of nonvenomous natricine colubrid endemic to the central United States and northern Mexico. There are three recognized subspecies of N. rhombifer, including the nominotypical subspecies.

<i>Nerodia erythrogaster</i> Species of snake

Nerodia erythrogaster, also known as the plain-bellied water snake or plainbelly water snake, is a common species of semi-aquatic, non-venomous colubrid snake endemic to the United States.

<i>Coluber constrictor oaxaca</i> Subspecies of snake

Coluber constrictor oaxaca, commonly known as the Mexican racer, is a nonvenomous colubrid snake, a subspecies of the eastern racer.

The Brazos water snake, also called commonly Harter's water snake, is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Texas in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded water snake</span> Species of snake

The banded water snake or southern water snake is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snakes most commonly found in the Midwest, Southeastern United States and Caribbean.

<i>Nerodia clarkii</i> Species of North American snake

Nerodia clarkii, commonly known as the salt marsh snake, is a species of semi-aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake found in the southeastern United States. Their range extends along the brackish salt marshes of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast from Texas to Florida, with an additional population in northern Cuba. Different subspecies of this snake are primarily identified via color patterns on each snake's belly, or anterior.

<i>Regina grahamii</i> Species of snake

Regina grahamii, commonly known as Graham's crayfish snake, is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the central United States.

<i>Sistrurus miliarius streckeri</i> Subspecies of snake

Sistrurus miliarius streckeri is a venomous pit viper subspecies found in the southcentral United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crayfish snake</span> Species of snake

The crayfish snake, also known commonly as the glossy crayfish snake, the glossy swampsnake, the glossy water snake, and the striped water snake, is a species of semiaquatic snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, and preys mainly on crayfish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirtland's snake</span> Species of snake

Kirtland's snake is a threatened or endangered North American species of nonvenomous snake of the subfamily Natricinae, of the family Colubridae. It is the only species in the genus Clonophis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida banded water snake</span> Subspecies of reptile

The Florida banded water snake, a subspecies of the banded water snake, is a nonvenomous natricine colubrid native to the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green water snake</span> Species of snake

The green water snake is a common species of nonvenomous natricine snake endemic to the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown water snake</span> Species of snake

The brown water snake is a large species of nonvenomous natricine snake endemic to the southeastern United States. This snake is often one of the most abundant species of snakes found in rivers and streams of the southeastern United States, yet many aspects of its natural history is poorly known. Due to abundance and distribution throughout its biological range, this species could be used to investigate anthropogenic impacts on aquatic ecosystems by studying their movements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern ribbon snake</span> Subspecies of snake

The southern ribbon snake(Thamnophis saurita sackenii), also known commonly as the peninsula ribbon snake and the Florida ribbon snake, is a subspecies of garter snake in the family Colubridae. It is one of four subspecies of the ribbon snake.

<i>Nerodia floridana</i> Species of snake

Nerodia floridana, commonly known as the Florida green watersnake, or eastern green watersnake, is a harmless species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common watersnake</span> Species of snake

The common watersnake is a species of large, nonvenomous, common snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America. It is frequently mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midwestern worm snake</span> Subspecies of snake

The midwestern worm snake, Carphophis amoenus helenae, a subspecies of C. amoenus, is a nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The subspecies is endemic to the Midwest and Southern United States.

References

  1. NatureServe (1 March 2024). "Nerodia sipedon pleuralis". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
  3. Conant, R., and W. Bridges. (1939). What Snake Is That? A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains. D. Appleton-Century. New York and London. Frontispiece map + viii + 163 pp. + Plates A-C, 1-32. (Natrix sipedon pleuralis, p. 102 + Plate 18, Figure 52.)
  4. Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN   0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis, p. 156)
  5. Nerodia sipedon at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 28 July 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Conant, R. (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. xviii + 429 pp. + 48 plates. ISBN   0-395-19979-4 (hardback), ISBN   0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Natrix sipedon pleuralis, pp. 145-146 + Plate 20 + Map 99.)
  7. Schmidt, K.P., and D.D. Davis. (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York. 365 pp. (Natrix sipedon pleuralis, pp. 220-222, Figure 72.)
  8. Himes, J. G. (2003). Diet composition of Nerodia sipedon (Serpentes: Colubridae) and its dietary overlap with, and chemical recognition of Agkistrodon piscivorus (Serpentes: Viperidae). Amphibia-Reptilia, 24(2), 181–188. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853803322390426

Further reading