Broad-banded Water Snakes, Adults (April 11, 2007; photos taken March 30, 2007) Cinco Ranch, Katy, Texas

 (Nerodia fasciata confluens) Non-venomous; temperamental; will bite if handled, and the adult bite is painful and draws blood but is otherwise inconsequential; beneficial

also see (Dolomedes triton) the Six-spotted water spider, in one of the supplied photos...

Photos courtesy of Christer R., his wife, and Granddaughter Gabrielle.; text by Jerry Cates

The markings found on this species consist of 11-17 wide crossbands of irregular shape, separated by narrow yellow interspaces, with reddish brown patches along their sides. The photographer counted six of these snakes, together, at Cinco Ranch, in Katy, Texas, on March 30, 2007.  The species normally mates in April or May, but since the behavior of these snakes is almost certainly associated with mating, who are we to say it's too early for that?  According to the photographer, these snakes ranged from 2 to 3 feet in length.

Besides, courtship for the species may entail a lengthy process, which if true would gain them much respect, methinks.

Note the bold, dark, cheek stripe that is characteristic of the species.  The dark vertical margins to the lower labial (lip) scales are characteristic of the genus Nerodia.  Round eyes with round pupils distinguish this from poisonous pit vipers, like the cottonmouth, which have cat's eyes with vertically slit pupils.

Notice that just above the snake's head is a large spider.  Although not all of the spider is visible, enough can be seen to identify it as the six-spotted fishing spider (Dolomedes triton). Due to its size, it is likely a female.  The length of the male's body rarely exceeds 0.5 inch, while that of the female reaches 0.75 inch. Leg-span, as in this specimen, can reach 2.5 inches. The dominant dorsal color is greenish brown, but its body is edged with a sliver-white margin, extending from the head, along the cephalothorax, all the way to the distal end of the abdomen. Its name derives from six dark spots on its undersurface. The abdomen has twelve white spots, the largest of which are almost perceptible in this photo. D. triton is found east of the Rockies in the United States and southern Canada, and is particularly common in Florida and along the Gulf Coast, where it prefers slow-moving streams and ponds. It eats water striders, and is preyed upon by fish.

Many thanks to Christer R. his wife, and especially his Granddaughter, Gabrielle, for these photos.  I am putting each photo through an enhancing program to bring out subtle features, and that takes time.  Additional photos and enlargements will be presented here before long, as time permits.

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