Diamond-backed Watersnake

Nerodia rhombifer

Safety note: Bites readily — not venomous

The Diamond-backed Watersnake is a large, heavy-bodied snake of the Mississippi valley. Its diamond-shaped dorsal pattern is distinctive. Frequently mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth, it bites aggressively but is harmless.

Habitat

Swamps, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs

Diet

Fish and frogs

How common

Common

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