| Range: |
 |
| Other Names: |
|
| Subspecies: |
Blotched Watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster transversa |
| Description: |
A dull heavy bodied snake with prominently keeled scales. It has large dorsal
blotches or saddles darker than body background color edged with black
or dark brown. |
| Similar Species: |
No other snake in New Mexico has a plain yellow belly and heavily keeled scales. The young, with the prominent alternating dorsal and lateral blotches and keeled scales, are not easily confused with any other species. |
| Venom: |
None |
| Habitat: |
Found in swamps, marshes, ponds or springs. |
| Behavior: |
When startled will swim to the bottom of location of water. May be
seen basking near water. Highly aquatic. Rarely ventures from water. If caught will bite and
expel a foul smelling secretion on attacker. |
| Hibernation: |
|
| Reproduction: |
Live bearing and will give birth to between 8 and 46 young. |
| Diet: |
Forges on crawfish, small salamanders, frogs, toads, tadpoles and small mammals. |
Authored by: Garth Teitjen
