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Reptilia    Squamata (part)    Natricidae  

Plain-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster (Forster, 1771)

Current SSAR Comments:
Makowsky et al. (2010, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 55: 985–995), using mtDNA data, concluded that the studied populations of N. erythrogaster as a whole were “part of a freely interbreeding, widespread species, with the possible exception of” the eastern populations, which represent the nominate subspecies. Based on the separation of the U. S. populations into two within Alabama, and lack of genetic data for Mexican subspecies, we retain two subspecies in the U. S. No subspecies of N. erythrogaster were recognized in the prior edition of this list.

Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2023.04.10.07.49.10)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 1.98 MB

First instance(s) of published English names:
Copper-bellied Snake (Anguis, ventre cuprei coloris: Catesby, Mark and Cromwell Mortimer. 1753. IX. A Continuation of an Account of an Essay Towards a Natural History of Carolina and the Bahama Islands. By Mark Catesby, F. R. S. with Some Extracts out of the Eighth Set. By Dr. Mortimer, Secr. R. S. Philosophical Transactions 39():251-258); Copper-belly Snake (Anguis ventre cuprei coloris: Catesby, Mark. 1754. The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Containing the Figures of Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Serpents, Insects, and Plants: Particularly the Forest-trees, Shrubs, and other Plants, not Hitherto Described, or Very Incorrectly Figured by Authors. Together with Their Descriptions in English and French. To which, are Added Observations on the Air, Soil, and Waters: with Remarks upon Agriculture, Grain, Pulse, Roots, &c. To the Whole, is Prefixed a New and Correct Map of the Countries Treated of. , London. pp.); Copper-bellied Snake (Coluber erythrogaster: Morse, Jedidiah. 1794. The American Geography of, a view of the Present Situation of the United State of America. John Stockdale, Piccadilly, London. pp.); Copper-bellied Snake (Coluber erythrogaster: Royal College of Surgeons of England. 1859. Descriptive catalogue of the specimens of natural history in spirit contained in the Museum of the Royal college of surgeons of England. Vertebrata: Pisces, Reptilia, Aves, Mammalia. Taylor and Francis, London, England. pp.); Red-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon var. erythrogaster: Jordan, David Starr. 1876. Manual of the Vertebrates of the Northern United States: Including the District East of the Mississippi River, and North of North Carolina and Tennessee, Exclusive of Marine Species. Jansen, McClurg, and Company, Chicago, Illinois.. 342pp.); Couch's Water Snake (Tropidonotus sipedon couchi: Yarrow, Henry C. 1882. Check list of North American Reptilia and Batrachia with catalogue of specimens in U. S. National Museum. Bulletin of the United States National Museum (24):1-249); Red-bellied Water Snake (Tropidonotus sipedon erythrogaster: Yarrow, Henry C. 1882. Check list of North American Reptilia and Batrachia with catalogue of specimens in U. S. National Museum. Bulletin of the United States National Museum (24):1-249); Woodhouse's Water Snake (Tropidonotus sipedon woodhouseii: Yarrow, Henry C. 1882. Check list of North American Reptilia and Batrachia with catalogue of specimens in U. S. National Museum. Bulletin of the United States National Museum (24):1-249); Woodhouse's Water Snake (Natrix faciata transversa: Beyer, George. 1900. Louisana herpetology. Proceedings of the Louisiana Society of Naturalists 1897-1899():24-46); Red-bellied Water Snake (Natrix fasciata erythrogaster: Beyer, George. 1900. Louisana herpetology. Proceedings of the Louisiana Society of Naturalists 1897-1899():24-46); Red-bellied Water Snake (Natrix fasciata erythrogaster: Branson, Edwin B. 1904. Snakes of Kansas. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 2(13):353-430); Red-bellied Water Snake (Natrix fasciata erythrogaster: Hurter, Julius. 1911. Herpetology of Missouri. Transactions of the Academy of Science St. Louis 20(5):59-274); Woodhouse's Water Snake (Natrix sipedon transversa: Hurter, Julius. 1911. Herpetology of Missouri. Transactions of the Academy of Science St. Louis 20(5):59-274); Copperbelly (Natrix fasciata erythrogastra: Brimley, Clement S. 1915. List of reptiles and amphibians of North Carolina. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 30(4):195-206); Hallowell's Water Snake (Natrix sipedon transversa: Strecker, John K. 1922. An annotated catalogue of the amphibians and reptiles of Bexar County, Texas. Bulletin Scientific Society of San Antonio (4):1-31); Yellow-bellied Water Snake (Natrix erythrogaster transversa: Taylor, Edward H. 1929. A revised checklist of the snakes of Kansas. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 19(5):53-62); Red-bellied Water Snake (Natrix erythrogaster erythrogaster: Schmidt, Karl Peterson and D. D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. C.P. Putnam and Sons, New York. 365pp.); Yellow-bellied Water Snake (Natrix erythrogaster transversa: Schmidt, Karl Peterson and D. D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. C.P. Putnam and Sons, New York. 365pp.); Plain-bellied Water Snake (Natrix erythrogaster: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Eastern Copperbelly (Natrix erythrogaster erythrogaster: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Red-bellied Water Snake (Natrix erythrogaster erythrogaster: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Yellow-bellied Water Snake (Natrix erythrogaster flavigaster: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Northern Copperbelly (Natrix erythrogaster neglecta: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.); Blotched Water Snake (Natrix erythrogaster transversa: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.);

Taxon Links:

  
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
  
The Reptile Database
  
NatureServe
  
iNaturalist
  
GenBank
  
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database

Pertinent LIterature:
1771 Forster, John R. A systematic catalogue of all the known plants of English North-America or, a flora Americae Septentrionalis. Pages in From Forster's translation of Bossu, Travels through that part of North America formerly called Louisiana, Vol. 1. T. Davies, London, England. pp.
2010 Makowsky, Robert, John C. Marshall Jr., John McVay, Paul T. Chippindale, and Leslie J. Rissler. Phylogeographic analysis and environmental niche modeling of the plain-bellied watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster) reveals low levels of genetic and ecological differentiation. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 55(3):985-995

THE CENTER FOR NORTH AMERICAN HERPETOLOGY — Accessed: Thursday 30 January 2025 01:59 CT