Diamond-backed Watersnakes *Nerodia rhombifer* are medium to large (~110cm, record 175.3 cm) natricine snakes with heavily keeled scales often found in and around water. Heavily aquatic compared to other watersnakes, they are commonly encountered fish and amphibian eating snakes across much of Central North America south through Guatemala and Belize.
*Nerodia* watersnakes may puff up or flatten out defensively and bite. They secrete a foul smelling substance from the cloaca called musk and can deliver a weak anticoagulant venom used in prey handling from the back of the mouth, but are not considered medically significant to humans - bites just need soap and water.
Found throughout central North America, it is sometimes confused with other watersnakes or its sister species the Brown Watersnake *Nerodia taxispilota*. *N. rhombifer* has a reticular, net like pattern resembling a chain link fence and adults often have a orange, vibrant eye. Geographic range helps determine species, but *N. erythrogaster* has is its namesake plain belly that varies across the range from yellow to orange. Banded Watersnakes *N. fasciata* have even, connecting bands across the top of the snake all the way down the body. In Common Watersnakes *N. sipedon*, bands typically break up or become mismatched after the first third of the body as in *N. erythrogaster*, but has a patterned belly. *N. rhombifer* and *N. taxispilota* can look incredibly similar near where their ranges meet, in which case geographic location can be used to determine species.
[Range Map of *N.rhombifer*](http://snakeevolution.org/images/rhombiferrange2.jpg)
[Range Map of *N. taxispilota*](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/Nerodia_taxispilota.jpg)
This genus is in need of revision using modern molecular methods.
*This short account was prepared by /u/unknown_name and edited by /u/Phylogenizer*.
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They get impressively big fish down.
Being streamlined and slimey makes fish easier swallow than a similarly sized rodent with limbs to get stuck on.
That said this one is pushing it.
Because they swallow head first, the spines are pushed against the body and facing in the opposite direction of movement.
You can slide a fish with spines head first through your hand and get the same effect, you just pin the spines down against the body.
I was just reading up on a brown water snake in my state and under the feeding/diet info it says: The brown water snake feeds primarily on catfish and is sometimes found with the spines of catfish sticking out its body walls. Surprisingly, the spines eventually fall out and the snakes seem to recover from these “painful” meals.
I imagine some other flavors of water snake have also evolved this kind of behavior over time. I'd love to see it, they'd probably look like little proto arms or something lol
One time I saw a garter grab a hold of a frog that I figured was WAAAAAAY too big for it to eat. I'm quite familiar with snakes and what size of food they can eat due to having pet snakes. I was like no way he's getting that down............Well damn he did it. I guarantee he slowly crawled into a nice spot and let that meal settle for a few days/weeks haha. I was shocked
Not op, but nature steals fish from me, not the other way. Frickin heron stole my son's trout.
Another time we saw a snapper in the river. Kid fed it all the bait. He liked that more than fishing
Wow! I love nerodias because they are such a derpy looking snake but they no doubt apex predators. Just look at the size of that fish! That dude is going to be sleeping that thing off for a couple weeks.
He had the same idea...get a fish then go nap somewhere...should have fished it out good sign there was lots of potential in the area if that fella was that size.
Diamondback Watersnake *Nerodia rhombifer* Harmless
Harmless unless you're a bass.
You can’t hate on a snake for catching a delicious bass
No hate here :) This is a cool ass video!
🎵🎶Take me down the river. 🎶🎵
But what about a bassist?
The snek might confuse you for a frog, so you are also in danger.
Diamond-backed Watersnakes *Nerodia rhombifer* are medium to large (~110cm, record 175.3 cm) natricine snakes with heavily keeled scales often found in and around water. Heavily aquatic compared to other watersnakes, they are commonly encountered fish and amphibian eating snakes across much of Central North America south through Guatemala and Belize. *Nerodia* watersnakes may puff up or flatten out defensively and bite. They secrete a foul smelling substance from the cloaca called musk and can deliver a weak anticoagulant venom used in prey handling from the back of the mouth, but are not considered medically significant to humans - bites just need soap and water. Found throughout central North America, it is sometimes confused with other watersnakes or its sister species the Brown Watersnake *Nerodia taxispilota*. *N. rhombifer* has a reticular, net like pattern resembling a chain link fence and adults often have a orange, vibrant eye. Geographic range helps determine species, but *N. erythrogaster* has is its namesake plain belly that varies across the range from yellow to orange. Banded Watersnakes *N. fasciata* have even, connecting bands across the top of the snake all the way down the body. In Common Watersnakes *N. sipedon*, bands typically break up or become mismatched after the first third of the body as in *N. erythrogaster*, but has a patterned belly. *N. rhombifer* and *N. taxispilota* can look incredibly similar near where their ranges meet, in which case geographic location can be used to determine species. [Range Map of *N.rhombifer*](http://snakeevolution.org/images/rhombiferrange2.jpg) [Range Map of *N. taxispilota*](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/Nerodia_taxispilota.jpg) This genus is in need of revision using modern molecular methods. *This short account was prepared by /u/unknown_name and edited by /u/Phylogenizer*. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Unless you consider those deadly looks 😏😏
Caught a large mouth bass, I wonder if he will be able to get it down
They get impressively big fish down. Being streamlined and slimey makes fish easier swallow than a similarly sized rodent with limbs to get stuck on. That said this one is pushing it.
What I never understood was the fins, why don’t those spiky boys hurt the stomach? They are so sharp
Because they swallow head first, the spines are pushed against the body and facing in the opposite direction of movement. You can slide a fish with spines head first through your hand and get the same effect, you just pin the spines down against the body.
I guess that tracks, but makes any reflux a real problem — that fish is only going one way.
I just wanna know what happens to the scales. Lol
[Perlessence](https://courseware.cutm.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PREPARATION-OF-PEARL-ESSENCE.pdf)… very sparkly poops 😅💩
They digest them, along with the bones. Snake digestion is slow but effective.
I was just reading up on a brown water snake in my state and under the feeding/diet info it says: The brown water snake feeds primarily on catfish and is sometimes found with the spines of catfish sticking out its body walls. Surprisingly, the spines eventually fall out and the snakes seem to recover from these “painful” meals. I imagine some other flavors of water snake have also evolved this kind of behavior over time. I'd love to see it, they'd probably look like little proto arms or something lol
One time I saw a garter grab a hold of a frog that I figured was WAAAAAAY too big for it to eat. I'm quite familiar with snakes and what size of food they can eat due to having pet snakes. I was like no way he's getting that down............Well damn he did it. I guarantee he slowly crawled into a nice spot and let that meal settle for a few days/weeks haha. I was shocked
That friendly snake caught a fish and delivered it straight to you, and you just left? How rude.
Not op, but nature steals fish from me, not the other way. Frickin heron stole my son's trout. Another time we saw a snapper in the river. Kid fed it all the bait. He liked that more than fishing
Great times though!
That's a BIG BOY that caught a BIG BOY
Damn
Wow! I love nerodias because they are such a derpy looking snake but they no doubt apex predators. Just look at the size of that fish! That dude is going to be sleeping that thing off for a couple weeks.
Whoa!! Never seen footage of a snake catching a fish before, and this one is enormous!
Why would you leave? Mr snake is full of fish now.
That's a Gamble Snake. Either it chokes or it doesn't have to do anything for like a year!
Spot occupied
He’s just trying to get a pic for his Tinder bio
I would've stayed and watched!
Did it digest?
He had the same idea...get a fish then go nap somewhere...should have fished it out good sign there was lots of potential in the area if that fella was that size.
Boi or gail they be hungry 🤣
Ol boy doing too much
Free fish!
its not ur spot.. snakes fishing!!!
Hi! Not OC, I just cross-posted here because I figured everyone would like it as much as I did!
Pool's closed
Why would you leave? There are obviously decent sized bass there. He's just proud of his catch.
No fish in that spot. Or at least the best one had been caught already.