Northern Watersnake Nerodia sipedon sipedon (Linnaeus, 1758)    Synonyms: Northern Water Snake.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Reptilia   >   Order Squamata   >   Family Colubridae   >   Genus Nerodia   

Status:

Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) is an adaptable and variable serpent of most aquatic habitats. This snake can be found at nearly any pond, lake, marsh, creek, river, bog, or wetland within its extensive range. They have a preference for slower waters, but can be found in areas with strong current as well. Nerodia sipedon prefers to eat various amphibian or fish species, though it may also consume invertebrates like worms or crayfish. Nerodia can be quite unpleasant if handled, and will bite and musk readily. Its numerous thin, needle-like teeth and anticoagulant properties of its saliva make bites memorable (Tennant, 2003). Watersnakes can frequently be found basking on rocks or logs adjacent to habitat, or hunting in shallow water close to shore. This snake is common across Maryland (Maryland DNR site).

Relationships:

Has been documented infected by the snake fungal disease Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Catesbania 38 (1):78-79).

There are 1,256 records in the project database.

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A Northern Watersnake found in Washington Co., Maryland (6/1/2008). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake with Tesselated Darter in Allegany Co., Maryland (5/30/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Northern Water Snake in Howard Co., Maryland (9/10/2011). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnakes in Harford Co., Maryland (5/20/2013). Photo by Benjamin DeHaven. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake at Fort Smallwood Park in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/19/2016). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Northern Water Snake in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/17/2017). Photo by Jeff Culler. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake in Baltimore City, Maryland (4/18/2015). Photo by Wendy J. Alexander, Ph.D. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake in Somerset Co., Maryland (11/5/2016). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake at Fort Howard Park, Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/11/2013). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/15/2011). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Northern Water Snake in Harford Co., Maryland (7/8/2018). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnakes in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/25/2020). Photo by William Blauvelt. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/23/2015). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (5/9/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (4/20/2013). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/19/2020). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/13/2009). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/30/2022). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

A young Northern Watersnake in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/29/2019). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake in Howard Co., Maryland (4/11/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/5/2021). (c) david3209, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by david3209 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Charles Co., Maryland (6/26/2020). (c) Jake Li, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jake Li via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/19/2016). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Charles Co., Maryland (6/26/2020). (c) Jake Li, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jake Li via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/12/2011). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/10/2009). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/10/2009). (c) Stephen John Davies, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Stephen John Davies via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/30/2022). (c) chance2crowns, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by chance2crowns via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Kent Co., Maryland (5/16/2020). (c) rando boyo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by rando_boyo via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/20/2021). (c) hollyjaro, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by hollyjaro via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/15/2021). (c) hollyjaro, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by hollyjaro via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A juvenile Northern Watersnake at Patapsco Valley State Park, Maryland. Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

The belly of a juvenile Northern Watersnake in Howard Co., Maryland (4/11/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake with Bullfrog prey in Washington Co., Maryland (7/4/2012). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake with White Perch in Wicomico Co., Maryland (12/31/2007). (c) Arthur Masloski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Arthur Masloski via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (10/21/2021). (c) ademsembryo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by ademsembryo via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake with American Eel prey in Calvert Co., Maryland (8/28/2011). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnakes in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/6/2015). Photo by Wendy Crowe. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnakes in Howard Co., Maryland (5/21/2019). Photo by Clayton Koonce. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake eating a Southern Leopard Frog in Worcester Co., Maryland (5/16/2020). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Northern Watersnake eating a frog in Dorchester Co., Maryland (5/23/2020). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Howard Co., Maryland (9/25/2015). (c) treichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/15/2019). (c) Chen Zhi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Chen Zhi via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Dorchester Co., Maryland (5/20/2018). (c) cr0w, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by cr0w via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Talbot Co., Maryland (2/15/2023). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/18/2021). (c) Jaroslav Holly, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by hollyjaro via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Watersnake with prey in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/6/2023). (c) Ron Wertz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by Ron Wertz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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