Help Me Identify This Snake

[Feathers and Fins]

Its a Northern Banded Watersnake ( Nerodia sipedon sipedon ) and one of the nicer ones I've seen in years, probably fresh from shedding. Harmless unless you are a toad or small fish. No way its a Corn Snake Belly Pattern is way off as is the rest. I have seen Corns that big and suggested to the owners to put them on a diet before they get serious health issues.

[Stoneroller]

google 'nothern banded watersnake ventral scales' and the debate is over. the corn snake has a completely different ventral scale pattern, plus as Mitch has pointed out, the snake's back was dark, it was not banded red/orange and white, which rules out the corn snake.

http://mdc.mo.gov/si...5/5187_3026.pdf

the snake also does not have the markings, red bands seperated by black then white then black bands as the red milk snake has. The red milk snake is a king snake and they have very distinct body and head shapes that are very difficult to misidentify.

The literature in the above MDC pdf specifically talks about the belly markings on the northern water snake, which this snake clearly is, taking into account the body size and head shape, plus Mitch's first hand observation of it's coloration. Had Mitch said it was red/orange and black or white banded, then I would have guessed corn snake at first.

[Feathers and Fins]

Ok thats settled anyone wanna try an ID this snake

[ColdWaterFshr]

green mamba and the look on your face says the venom's neurotoxins have reached their destination . . . . or its "name that solvent I've been sniffing", and I'd guess toulene or Testor's model airplane glue

[Justin Spencer]

I'm going with a big green vine snake.jpg - Size: 22.93K, Downloads: 6, whoops I mean Big green vine snake.

[ColdWaterFshr]

Classic!

[Mitch f]

In real life it did not look like the pictures of the corn snake. Like I said, the back was dark brown and only the underside was colored. I agree with Fand F, stoneroller and siusaluki that it was a banded waters snake.

BTW, stoneroller, he survived the "choking" and was quite pissed when released

[fishinSWMO]

Here is a picture of a snake my son Jack and I found Saturday. We were along the creek but right next to the park area. A few people saw what we were doing and came over to look as we walked away. Not a minute passed and there was a whole group of adults and kids yelling copperhead, kill it, and objects were being tossed at it. I was proud of my boy when he walked over yelling at everybody to leave it alone. They finally left it alone after a nine year old gave them a scolding.

[KCRIVERRAT]

We had a smart police officer from Iowa do a Steve Irwin impression on a copperhead down here one evening. Despite Amy telling him it was a copperhead he proceeded to grab it by the tail and get a nice bite right on his hand. His wife was real happy to be taking him to the hospital, but despite a huge hand he was back the next day and on the river.

Iowan's are some big ol' boys. Tuff but stupid. Glad them corn fed suckers don't know how to use the internet!

Backlash from Iowans's to follow...

[Justin Spencer]

Here is a picture of a snake my son Jack and I found Saturday. We were along the creek but right next to the park area. A few people saw what we were doing and came over to look as we walked away. Not a minute passed and there was a whole group of adults and kids yelling copperhead, kill it, and objects were being tossed at it. I was proud of my boy when he walked over yelling at everybody to leave it alone. They finally left it alone after a nine year old gave them a scolding.

Definately another water snake, I have to listen to people tell me about how many copperheads and water moccasins they see while on the river and 99.99999% are these guys.