Common Name: 
Banded water snake

Scientific Name: 
Nerodia fasciata

Identification: 16-50 in; Banded water snakes have a light and dark color phase.  The dark phase will appear brown to black with narrow tan or yellow crossbands and a pale orange band from the eye to the angle of the mouth. The light color phase consists of tan to orange-brown snakes with dark brown gray crossbands. The belly is marked with large, alternating dark red or black and cream blotches. Scales keeled.

Habits: Banded water snakes favor swamps with canopied trees but occur in and around most fresh water and some brackish bodies within Louisiana, usually sluggish water bodies.

Distribution: Throughout Louisiana