Broad-banded Water Snake, juvenile (March 29, 2007) The Woodlands, Texas

 (Nerodia fasciata confluens) Non-poisonous; temperamental; will bite if handled but a juvenile's teeth cannot break human skin (the adult bite is painful and draws blood but is otherwise inconsequential); beneficial

Photos courtesy of Tim T..; 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. This specimen appears to have either 12 or 13 crossbands.

One of the first conclusions most people make when they see this snake is that it is a Texas coral snake.  In fact, the first part of the coral snake identification rhyme "Red touch yellow, kill a fellow..." suggests that this is a coral snake, because the yellow interspaces touch the reddish portions of the crossbands.  If you look closely, however, the same is also true of the rest of the rhyme, "Red touch black, friend of Jack...", which suggests it is NOT a coral snake. Neither is right, it turns out, because the markings are crossbands that do not include the belly, not rings that completely encircle the body, as the coral snake has.  Still, it can be confusing, can't it?

To add to the confusion, most of the time when one observes either a Texas coral snake or this species, the broad-banded water snake, in the wild, the belly is not visible.  Thus it isn't possible to determine if the markings are crossbands or rings. Experience comes in handy in such situations, because a savvy herpetologist will know, just from the markings and structure of the head, along with the snake's large eyes, the light colored lips with vertical dark markings, that this is a Nerodian and not a coral snake.

The striking colors, and the irregular margins to the markings on the body, make this one of the most beautiful snakes in Texas.  That it is perfectly harmless (though the bite of an adult can be painful and bloody), just adds to its "charm".  I say the latter jocularly, as few who have worked with the adults of this species would call them charming.  Still, the Nerodians as a whole are extremely beneficial snakes, deserving of respect and admiration.

Many thanks to Tim T. for these photos...

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