# Plain-bellied Watersnake (*Nerodia erythrogaster*) The Plain-bellied Watersnake is a friendly snake that loves to swim! It has a smooth, shiny body that can be brown or gray, and it often hides near water to catch its favorite food, which is fish. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Plain-bellied Watersnake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Nerodia_erythrogasterPCSL03705B.jpg&width=800) Photo: Patrick Coin ( Patrick Coin ), CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nerodia_erythrogasterPCSL03705B.jpg) ## Appearance The Plain-bellied Watersnake is a medium to large snake with a striking solid, unmarked belly that can be yellow, orange, or reddish. Its back is typically a uniform brown, gray, or olive, often lacking distinct patterns in adults, which makes it visually different from many banded watersnake species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Nerodia ## Interesting facts - Even though they have "watersnake" in their name, they can climb trees to bask too! - Their bellies can be bright red, orange, or yellow, making them look very fancy! - They give birth to live babies, not eggs, up to 30 at once! - Young Plain-bellied Watersnakes often have faint patterns that disappear as they grow. ## Special abilities - **Underwater Hunter:** Plain-bellied Watersnake can hunt under the water because it can hold its breath, which helps them catch fish and frogs. - **Color Camouflage:** Plain-bellied Watersnake has a plain back coloration that helps them blend perfectly with murky water and riverbeds. - **Musky Defense:** Plain-bellied Watersnake can release a strong-smelling musk when threatened, which helps them deter predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 76-150 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 4 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-30 - **Maximum Depth:** 5 m ## Diet & Feeding They are expert hunters, mostly feasting on fish, frogs, and salamanders they catch in the water. - **Primary Foods:** Minnows, Sunfish, Bullfrogs, Salamanders, Crayfish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Bullfrog (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — Preys on frogs and their tadpoles. - **Hunts:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Eats various small fish species. - **Eaten by:** [American Alligator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-alligator) (*Alligator mississippiensis*) — A major predator in their wetland homes. - **Eaten by:** [Snapping Turtle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snapping-turtle) (*Chelydra serpentina*) — Large turtles can prey on watersnakes. ## Traits - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a snake, it's best to watch from a distance and not touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Plain-bellied 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 Plain-bellied Watersnake? 76-150 cm ### How much does Plain-bellied Watersnake weigh? 0.5-1.5 kg ### How long does Plain-bellied Watersnake live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Plain-bellied Watersnake move? 5 km/h ### What does Plain-bellied Watersnake eat? They are expert hunters, mostly feasting on fish, frogs, and salamanders they catch in the water. ### How fast can Plain-bellied Watersnake swim? 4 km/h ### Where is Plain-bellied Watersnake usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Chilocco Indian Agricultural School](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chilocco-indian-agricultural-school) — Oklahoma, US · Campus - [Columbia Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-canal) — South Carolina, US · Historic Site - [Gloucester Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gloucester-downtown-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Locust Grove State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locust-grove-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Plain-bellied Watersnake](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/plain-bellied-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: [Plain-bellied Watersnake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plain-bellied-watersnake)