Genus: Nerodia

Scales: Keeled

Anal Plate: Divided

The Blotched Water Snake is one of two subspecies of Nerodia erythrogaster found in Texas. The other is the Yellow-bellied Water Snake. This subspecies can found throughout North Central Texas to the Central Gulf Coast area and west along the Pesos River. They are also found in a few localities west of the Pecos River. Like many other Water Snakes, this species eats aquatic vertebrates, such as tadpoles, frogs, aquatic salamanders and fish. There have been reports of this species eating aquatic invertebrates as well. This species, as with most water snake species, is often misidentified as a Cottonmouth.

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