Diamondback Water Snake

**Diamondback Water Snake**

The diamondback water snake, *Nerodia rhombifer*, is a medium to large (the record is 69 inches (175.3 cm)) natricine snakes with heavily keeled scales often found in and around water. They are commonly encountered fish and amphibian eating snakes across much of Central and South Central America.

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.

The diamondback water snake is differentiated from other water snakes mainly by it's pattern, which resembles a [chain link fence.](http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/image/Reptile/W-LAD-diamondbackwater.jpg). In some cases, water snakes become so dark or muddy that the pattern is not visible. Another way to generally differentiate diamondback water snakes from other common water snakes of it's range, like the plain-bellied or the common water snake, is by looking at the eyes. Diamondback water snakes typically have [orange eyes,](https://www.flickr.com/photos/145841826@N03/39559186471) whereas their counterparts will typically have [darker eyes.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/nclarkii/5881873953)

[Range Map](https://nas.er.usgs.gov/viewer/GetStaticMap.aspx?cache=true&region=us&width=700&height=450&speciesid=2577)