Green water snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids green water snake |
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| Nerodia cyclopion in Arkansas | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Nerodia
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| Species: |
cyclopion
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The green water snake (Nerodia cyclopion) is a common type of non-poisonous snake. It lives only in the southeastern United States.
Contents
Where Green Water Snakes Live
Green water snakes are found in the southeastern parts of the United States. Their home range stretches from the Florida panhandle all the way west to Louisiana. They also live north through the Mississippi Valley up to southern Illinois.
You can find them in specific states like southwestern Alabama, southeastern Arkansas, and northwestern Florida. They also live in southern Illinois, southwestern Indiana, western Kentucky, Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southeastern Missouri, western Tennessee, and southeastern Texas. The first place this snake was officially found and described was in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What Green Water Snakes Look Like
The green water snake is different from most other water snakes in North America. It has one or more small scales right under its eye. This makes it look like there's a ring of tiny plates around its eye. Only one other snake, N. floridana, shares this special feature.
This snake has a thick body. Its back is usually dark green, olive green, or brown. Its belly is yellowish near the head. The rest of its belly is dark brown with yellow or white half-circles.
Green water snakes usually grow to be about 76 to 140 centimeters (30 to 55 inches) long. This measurement includes their tail.
Green Water Snake Homes
Green water snakes like calm water. They prefer places like bayous, lakes, marshes, ponds, slow-moving streams, and swamps. Sometimes, you might even find them living in brackish water, which is a mix of fresh and salt water.
What Green Water Snakes Eat
The green water snake is a predator. It hunts and eats crayfish, frogs, and fish.
Green Water Snake Relatives
There used to be a type of green water snake called the Florida green water snake (Nerodia cyclopion floridana). But scientists have now decided that it is its own separate species, called Nerodia floridana.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
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Green water snakes give birth to live young, instead of laying eggs. This means the babies develop inside the mother. Mating usually happens on land in April. The baby snakes are born in July or August. When they are born, they are about 25 centimeters (10 inches) long.
The number of babies born at one time can vary a lot. A female snake can have anywhere from 7 to 101 babies. The size of the female snake affects how many babies she has. Female green water snakes are larger than males. They can weigh over 4.1 kilograms (9 pounds).
- Species Nerodia cyclopion at The Reptile Database
