At a glance:
Coloration: They show a range of colours such as brown, tan, black, and copper.
Quick Identification: Round eyes and distinct long stripes around the mouth.
Venom Level: Non-venomous.
Average Lifespan: 7–9 years in captivity; wild lifespan is uncertain due to road mortality, predation, and habitat loss.
Size: Typically 24–48 inches.
Commonly referred to as water snakes, Nerodia is a genus of nonvenomous aquatic and semi aquatic snakes found all over North America. They have a narrow shaped head with spherical pupils although they may flatten their heads like vipers as their defense mechanism. They have a wonderful checkering pattern on their belly (mostly copper checkering) but it's not that you necessarily see the belly of the snake . They are very shy snakes although they might bite you when feel threatened .
The common watersnake or Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
Most of them live in American wetlands. If you like swimming, hiking, kayaking, or scuba diving and you live in the US you're likely to come across these water-loving serpents eventually.
They have an average length of 2.5’ to 3’7” . The females are larger than the males. They mate after coming out of hibernation in late March to April. They are viviparous, meaning they undergo internal fertilization and the embryo develops inside the mother until a young one is born between late August and early October .