Brown swimming snake
| Brown swimming snake | ||||||||||||
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Brown swimming snake ( Nerodia taxispilota ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Nerodia taxispilota | ||||||||||||
| ( Holbrook , 1838) |
The brown swimming snake ( Nerodia taxispilota ) is also known as the brown water snake or brown water snake . It is widespread in the southeastern USA from Virginia to Alabama , where it occurs on river and lake banks and in swamps.
description
With a length of 120 to 170 cm, N. taxispilota is a large squat water snake that has three rows of more or less square, offset spots on a light to dark brown background. The ventral side is yellow with noticeable spots.
Way of life
Brown swimming snakes are diurnal and feed mainly on fish and frogs. They are excellent climbers and often bask on the branches hanging over the water. Mating occurs in April or May, and in summer up to 50 young are born, which can already reach a length of 50 cm.
This adder is a defensive species that defends itself not only by emptying malodorous anal secretions, but also by violent and painful bites.
Web links
- Nerodia taxispilota in The Reptile Database
- Nerodia taxispilota inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015.4. Listed by: Hammerson, GA, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2016.