# Brown Watersnake (*Nerodia taxispilota*) The Brown Watersnake is a friendly snake that loves to swim in rivers and lakes. It has a beautiful brown color with dark stripes, which helps it blend in with the water and plants. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Brown Watersnake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Brown_Water_Snake.jpg&width=800) Photo: http://www.birdphotos.com, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brown_Water_Snake.jpg) ## Appearance The Brown Watersnake is a robust snake, typically brown to tan with large, dark brown square blotches that often form an irregular checkered pattern down its back and sides. Its scales are keeled, giving it a rough appearance, and its head is relatively small compared to its thick body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Nerodia ## Interesting facts - Brown Watersnakes give birth to live young, not eggs, usually between 10 and 60 babies! - Despite their name, they are non-venomous and generally harmless to humans! - These snakes are often mistaken for venomous Cottonmouths, but they are very different! - They can climb into low-hanging branches above water, sometimes even basking in trees! ## Special abilities - **Clever Camouflage:** Brown Watersnakes have intricate patterns that help them blend perfectly into muddy or leafy watery habitats. - **Pungent Defense:** Brown Watersnakes can release a stinky, musky fluid when scared, making predators think twice about bothering them. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 75-155 cm - **Weight:** 0.2-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-12 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 6 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-60 - **Maximum Depth:** 3 m ## Diet & Feeding These snakes are expert hunters, mainly feasting on fish and frogs they catch in the water. - **Primary Foods:** Sunfish, Minnows, Catfish, Frogs, Salamanders - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Main food source in many habitats. - **Eats:** [Southern Leopard Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-leopard-frog) (*Rana sphenocephala*) — Preys on frogs found near water's edge. - **Eaten by:** [American Alligator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-alligator) (*Alligator mississippiensis*) — A significant predator in shared habitats. - **Eaten by:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Large fish may prey on young snakes. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see a snake, it's best to stay calm and walk away. They usually don't want to bother you! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brown Watersnake? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Brown Watersnake? 75-155 cm ### How much does Brown Watersnake weigh? 0.2-1.5 kg ### How long does Brown Watersnake live? 7-12 years ### How fast can Brown Watersnake move? 5 km/h ### What does Brown Watersnake eat? These snakes are expert hunters, mainly feasting on fish and frogs they catch in the water. ### How fast can Brown Watersnake swim? 6 km/h ### Where is Brown Watersnake usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Francis Beidler Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/francis-beidler-forest) — South Carolina, US · Forest - [Greensboro Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greensboro-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Juliette Gordon Low Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/juliette-gordon-low-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Museum - [Riverview Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/riverview-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Savannah Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/savannah-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-florida-zoo-and-botanical-gardens) — Florida, US · Zoo [View all places to see Brown Watersnake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/brown-watersnake) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Brown Watersnake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-watersnake)