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Squamata, Serpentes, Natricidae: Water Snakes |
| Natricid snakes make up about 34 genera and at least 200 species. They occur in both Hemispheres and in both temperate and tropical environments, but they appear to have originated in Asia, and dispersed into Europe, and North America. Today, these snakes are best considered to have a Holarctic and Oriental distribution. Africa, Australia, and South America have but a few representatives of this family. Natricids lack enlarged grooved rear fangs on the maxillary bone, but some have enlarged teeth at the rear of the maxillary bone. They have vertebrae similar to those found in the Colubridae except for the backward projecting bony processes (hypapophyses) extending off all precaudal vertebrae, these sere as attachments for muscles used for swimming. Many of these snakes live in subtropical or temperate climates and some have the ability to survive long winter in low oxygen environments (some Thamnophis hibernate underwater). Food is usually swallowed alive, it is not constricted, but some of these snakes have toxic, digestive molecules that are produced in their mouths that help subdue the prey and start digestion before it enters the stomach. |
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Red Necked Keelback, Rhabdophis subminiatus (Schlegel, 1837). Photographed in Khao Luang National Park in southern Thailand. Adult length to 1300 mm. Females lay 5-17 eggs. Under the red patch of skin is a gland that stores toxins accumulated by the snake from the toads it eats. This species produces toxic molecules in its mouth and is potentially dangerous to humans.
For more Asian Natricidae click on the photo.
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The Queen Snake, Regina septemvittata (Say, 1825). Photographed in Will County, Illinois. Queen snakes range from southeast Canada to the Gulf Coast and westward to Wisconsin and Arkansas. It inhabits forested streams, and feeds mostly on newly molted crayfish which it locates by scent.
For more American Natricidae click on the photo.
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| All text and photographs copyright © John C. Murphy. All rights reserved worldwide. The content of this site is made available for purposes of researching images offered for license by John C. Murphy. No image is to be copied, duplicated, modified or redistributed in whole or part without the prior written permission of JCM Natural History Photography. Email: jcm@jcmnaturalhistory.com |
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