Northern water snake The belly also varies in color. It can be white, yellow, or gray. Usually it also has reddish or black crescents. The northern water snake is nonvenomous and harmless to humans, but superficially resembles the venomous cottonmouth and is often killed unnecessarily as a result of this mistaken identity. The two can be easily distinguished by morphological traits: the water snake has a longer, more slender body and a flattened head the same width as the neck, round pupils, and no heat-sensing pits. The cottonmouth has a fatter body, a wedge-shaped head with prominent venom glands that are wider than
Florida banded water snake 180–223 mm (7.0-8.8 inches) in total length. Florida banded water snake The Florida banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris), a subspecies of the banded water snake (southern water snake - "Nerodia fasciata"), is a nonvenomous natricine colubrid native to the southeastern United States. The Florida banded water snake is endemic throughout Florida and southeastern Georgia. In addition, it has been introduced to Brownsville, Texas. It has also established populations in Folsom and Harbor City, California. Dorsally, it is light brown or yellowish, with 26-35 reddish-brown to black crossbands. Ventrally, it is yellow or white, with reddish-brown or black markings. In