“Threatened” means likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future. Fun Facts - The copperbelly water snake is a subspecies of the plainbelly water snake. Ventral (belly) scales often have a dark border that is more prominent toward the tail. Copper-Bellied Watersnake - Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta. Overview: This stout-bodied water snake is currently known to inhabit only Williams County, although small, widely scattered remnant populations may occur elsewhere in northwestern Ohio. The Copperbelly Water Snake is rare in Ohio. Their background color is browner, and their bands are more mahogany than copper. It may bite if handled, but is not venomous. Identifying, protecting, and restoring endangered and threatened species is a primary objective of the U.S. Copper-bellied Watersnake, Copper-bellied Water Snake Family: Colubridae (typical snakes) Taxonomy: The Copperbelly Water Snake is a subspecies of the Plainbelly or Plain-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster) (Conant 1949). According to one report, these snakes are active in early evening and hunt for their food in open water. Yellow-bellied water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster) A subspecies of the plain-bellied water snake, these snakes are so named because they have no markings on their bellies. At birth Copper-bellied Water Snakes range in length from 21 to 27 cm (8.3 to 10.6 in). Their background color is browner, and their bands are more mahogany than copper. Photo courtesy of John MacGregor. However, there are differences: Northern water snakes are much darker in color than copperheads. The copperbelly water snake, an endangered species, is found in southern Michigan and northern Indiana and Ohio. Although it is a water snake, the copperbelly spends less time in the water than other Kentucky water snakes. It may anchor itself to a rock or tree and hang in the water facing the current with its mouth open waiting for a meal. As excellent swimmers, they hunt aquatic species including tadpoles, frogs, salamanders, insect larvae, and crayfish. It feeds primarily on amphibians, mostly frogs and tadpoles. Northern water snakes are mistaken for copperheads due to their coloring. This is usually tan to dark brown in color, with thick bands that can appear reddish-brown. Northern water snakes are mistaken for copperheads due to their coloring. Copper Head Snakes and Water Snakes Copperhead snake (Photo: Michale McCarthy, Flicker sharing) Identification of the venomous copperhead snake and the harmless northern banded water snake. “Endangered” means in danger of becoming extinct. The copper-bellied water snake prefers to live near wooded floodplains, shrub wetlands, and adjacent to slow moving rivers. Copperbelly Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta Status Threatened (northern population) Listed January 29, 1997 Family Colubridae Description Snake with a solid dark, usually black, back with a bright orange-red undersid Source for information on Copperbelly Water Snake: Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America dictionary. Agricultural development on its limited habitat has all but eliminated this snake from the state. Fun Facts - The copperbelly water snake is a subspecies of the plainbelly water snake. Males are usually smaller than females and have longer tails. Copperbelly water snakes need shallow wetlands along the edges of larger wetlands complexes where they can hunt for frogs, but they also require multiple wetland types as well as adjacent uplands. In the Eastern US one of the biggest fears of homeowners and people who work or play outside near the water is venomous spiders and snakes. Belly is solid and ranges from pale orange to red or copper. This is usually tan to dark brown in color, with thick bands that can appear reddish-brown. Adult Characteristics: Large water snake with keeled scales and usually a divided anal plate (about 10% have a complete anal plate). Fish and Wildlife Service. Adult Characteristics: Large water snake with keeled scales and usually a divided anal plate (about 10% have a complete anal plate). Although it is a water snake, the copperbelly spends less time in the water than other Kentucky water snakes. Ventral (belly) scales often have a dark border that is more prominent toward the tail. Males are usually smaller than females and have longer tails. However, there are differences: Northern water snakes are much darker in color than copperheads. Formerly, this species was classified in the genus Natrix. Belly is solid and ranges from pale orange to red or copper. The northern population of the copperbelly water snake is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It is very active and aggressive, and will vent its foul-smelling musk freely when threatened or attacked. In the spring, tadpoles seem to be especially tasty to hungry copper-bellied water snakes. Range: The Copperbelly Water Snake occurs in It may anchor itself to a rock or tree and hang in the water facing the current with its mouth open waiting for a meal.