The plain-bellied watersnake is a medium-sized, heavy-bodied, dark-colored, semiaquatic snake with a plain yellow belly. It is mainly gray, greenish gray, or brownish black, with little or no pattern on its back. Populations in western Missouri are more likely to have blotches along the back and sides. The belly is plain yellow or occasionally with some orange.
Occurs in the Bootheel and north along the Mississippi River floodplain, and along our southernmost counties and northward in western Missouri to about Buchanan, Livingston, and Linn counties.
This species is active from late March through October. Most individuals emerge from their overwintering retreats in April and early May.
Plain-bellied watersnakes prefer the quiet waters of swamps, sloughs, oxbows, slow-moving rivers and streams, floodplains, seasonally flooded bottomland woods, drainage ditches, lakes, and ponds. In summer, however, it is not unusual to find them on dry land, because they may move far away from water.
Individuals bask on logs in shallow water, on branches above the water, or along the shore.
In winter, these snakes retreat to mammal burrows, rock piles and crevices, riprap rocks along levees, and rotting stumps and logs. In north-central Missouri, this is one of the snake species that commonly overwinters in crayfish burrows.
Foods include fish, toads, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, and crayfish. Although most other watersnake species eat mostly fish, this species seems to eat a larger percentage of frogs and toads.
Taxonomy: The plain-bellied watersnake used to be divided into several different subspecies, including the yellow-bellied watersnake (N. e. erythrogaster), occurring in eastern Missouri along the Mississippi River and in the Bootheel, and the blotched watersnake (N. e. transversa), occurring in western and southwestern Missouri, but those subspecies are no longer recognized.
Yellow bellied snakes are some of the most widespread and commonly encountered snakes in North America and around the world Their vibrant yellow undersides make them easily recognizable, even though their dorsal coloration can vary quite a bit between species
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at 17 different snake species with yellow bellies. We’ll cover their key identifying features, habitat ranges, sizes, and more. Whether you’re a snake enthusiast, herpetologist, or just curious about these colorful reptiles, you’ll learn some fascinating facts about snakes with yellow undersides.
Are Snakes With Yellow Bellies Venomous?
An important question when encountering any snake is “is this species venomous?” In the case of yellow bellied snakes the answer is mostly no.
The vast majority of snakes that have yellow bellies are nonvenomous colubrid species This family includes garter snakes, racers, ringneck snakes, kingsnakes, and watersnakes They kill prey through constriction rather than venom.
Of the 17 species profiled here, only one – the yellow-bellied sea snake – is considered highly venomous. This marine species lives in tropical ocean waters far from human contact.
So when you come across a snake with a vibrant yellow belly slithering through the grass or along the water’s edge, it’s very unlikely to be dangerous. Their bright bellies are warning coloration to predators, not humans.
17 Snakes With Yellow Bellies
Now let’s take a closer look at some specific yellow bellied snake species:
1. Common Garter Snake
The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is one of the most widespread snakes in North America. It has a brown, olive, or gray back with a yellow dorsal stripe and belly. Adults range from 18-26 inches long. These snakes thrive in moist habitats like wetlands, forests, and meadows.
2. Prairie Ringneck Snake
Ringneck snakes get their name from the brightly colored yellow, orange, or red ring around their necks. The prairie ringneck subspecies (Diadophis punctatus arnyi) has a black back and matching bright yellow or red belly. They are small snakes less than 15 inches in length.
3. Southern Ringneck Snake
Closely related to the prairie ringneck, the southern ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) also has a black back with yellow or sometimes red belly coloration. It ranges throughout the southeastern United States.
4. Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer
The eastern yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) lives up to its name with a gray, olive, or brown back and bright yellow underside. As juveniles they have blotchy patterns that fade as adults. These fast moving snakes grow to around 4 feet long.
5. Western Yellow-bellied Racer
Similarly, the western yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) has a dark brown or black back with vivid yellow belly as an adult. It is found across the western and southwestern United States.
6. Plain-bellied Watersnake
True to its name, the plain-bellied watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster) has an unmarked yellow or pale yellow belly. Its back is gray or brown, and it reaches lengths of 24-43 inches. This aquatic snake inhabits ponds, lakes, and wetlands of the southeastern U.S.
7. Rough Greensnake
The slender rough greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) lives up to its name with a bright green back and pale yellow belly. Despite reaching 37 inches long, this arboreal species is pencil thin. It dwells in trees near water across the eastern U.S. and Canada.
8. Diamondback Watersnake
The diamondback watersnake (Nerodia rhombifer) is a large, heavy-bodied snake with a diamond patterned brown or gray back and yellow or brown belly. It grows up to 79 inches long and favors aquatic habitats in the south-central United States.
9. Eastern Hognose Snake
The eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) has a variable coloration featuring different shades of gray, brown, olive, or tan marked with large dark blotches. Their bellies are yellow, cream, or orange. A stout bodied species that maxes out at 45 inches long.
10. Speckled Kingsnake
Speckled kingsnakes (Lampropeltis holbrooki) have a black or dark brown back scattered with yellow flecks plus a bright yellow belly. Average size is 24-40 inches for these stout-bodied constrictors that live in pine forests and wetlands of the southeast.
11. Aquatic Garter Snake
Found along the Pacific coast, the aquatic garter snake (Thamnophis atratus) looks much like its common relative. It has a dark olive, brown, or black back with yellow stripes and matching yellow belly. They average 16-26 inches long.
12. Mississippi Green Watersnake
Mississippi green watersnakes (Nerodia cyclopion) have an olive, brown, or greenish back with yellow belly towards the tail transitioning to a brownish posterior belly. A medium sized species reaching 24-39 inches that inhabits ponds, lakes, and streams of the southeast.
13. Graham’s Crayfish Snake
Graham’s crayfish snake (Regina grahamii) is a small species with a dark brown or gray back and pale yellow belly that grows to 10-20 inches long. As the name suggests, these snakes rely heavily on crayfish as prey throughout their southeastern U.S. range.
14. Glossy Swampsnake
Similar in size to the crayfish snake, the glossy swampsnake (Liodytes rigida) reaches 10-18 inches in length. It has a dark olive or brown back with yellow underside marked by olive stripes along the belly. Found in swamps of the southeastern coastal plains.
15. Striped Swampsnake
The diminutive striped swampsnake (Liodytes alleni) has a dark olive or brown back with a yellow belly that may be marked with patches of dark scales. A tiny species that maxes out at around 15 inches. It inhabits swamps, flooded grasslands, and ditches, mainly in Florida.
16. Brown Watersnake
Also called the brown water snake or water pilot, Nerodia taxispilota reaches up to 79 inches long. It has a brown, gray, or reddish-brown back with a yellow belly marked with dark crescent-shaped spots. These heavy-bodied snakes occupy swamps and streams of the southeastern coastal plains.
17. Black Kingsnake
Lastly, the black kingsnake (Lampropeltis nigra) is jet black above with yellow, cream, or tan below, sometimes with black blotches. The largest kingsnake, occasionally reaching 84 inches. It thrives in farmlands and dilapidated structures throughout the southeast.
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen, numerous snake species spanning North America and beyond share the trait of having stunning yellow undersides. While the vast majority are nonvenomous, their warning coloration tells predators to steer clear.
For snake enthusiasts, naturalists, and herpetologists, their vibrant bellies make these creatures easy to identify once you learn their key features. Whether slithering through water, grasslands, or up in trees, snakes with yellow bellies form an iconic and fascinating group of reptiles.
Life Cycle Life Cycle
Courtship and mating occur in spring, especially in April and May. Females give birth to live young during August and early September, with usually 10–20 in a litter. Larger females bear larger litters. Individuals become sexually mature by about age three. Lifespan can be nearly 15 years.
As with most of our watersnakes, although it is nonvenomous, it is pugnacious. When cornered, an individual will strike or bite viciously. When captured, watersnakes also excrete a foul-smelling musk from glands in the base of the tail that it is often mixed with feces and smeared on the captor.
Snakes stir our imaginations and figure prominently in our myths, religions, and stories. We humans have invented many unfair and incorrect myths that make them seem the embodiment of evil. Curiosity and knowledge helps us overcome our prejudices.
As predators, watersnakes control populations of the animals they consume. But snakes are preyed upon themselves. Their defenseless newborns are eaten by animals ranging from large frogs and fish to other snakes and birds and mammals. Adults are eaten by predatory mammals and birds. Watersnakes defensive behaviors (biting and smearing bad-smelling stuff on enemies) remind us that they are a prey species themselves. Title Media Gallery
Credit MDC Staff Right to Use Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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Video: Yellow-bellied sea snakes: fact and fiction
FAQ
Are snakes with yellow bellies poisonous?
The yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis platurus) is a highly venomous species of snake from the subfamily Hydrophiinae (the sea snakes) found in tropical oceanic waters around the world except for the Atlantic Ocean.
Are yellow-bellied kingsnakes poisonous?
They are nonvenomous and harmless to humans.
Are yellow garter snakes poisonous?
Garter snakes are known to be aggressive when threatened and will strike or bite. However, these snakes are generally considered harmless since they are non-venomous. As such, the eastern garter snake bite is harmless. Garter snakes are active throughout the day and night and may even be active on warm winter days.
Are yellow belly racer snakes poisonous?
This snake is non-venomous and does not kills its prey with constriction.
What snakes have yellow bellies?
The snake prefers to live around farms and abandoned land. Black Kingsnakes can be the snake with the yellow belly humans encounter the easiest in many of its Eastern US native states. Numerous snake species have vivid bellies. Discover 17 snakes with yellow bellies you may encounter in North America.
What is a yellow-bellied water snake?
The uniform yellow color of the Plain-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster) inspires its name. Snakes of this genus have a yellow or pale yellow underbelly without any marks or spots. This is a species that’s considerably shorter than Eastern or Western Yellow-bellied Racers as it can grow to a size of around 40 inches.
What does a yellow-bellied sea snake look like?
The yellow-bellied sea snake is a vivid and striking snake with a unique color pattern. The top half is jet black, while the bottom half is a brilliant bright yellow. Its paddle-shaped tail is a lighter shade of yellow, patterned with black spots and blotches.
Where do snakes with yellow bellies live?
Snakes with yellow bellies are found around the world, including in North America. These snakes come in different dorsal colors and sizes. Many are abundant in their distribution areas often being spotted by humans. Some snakes with yellow bellies even live in proximity to humans, particularly those in swamps or on farms.
Are yellow bellies venomous?
Most snakes with yellow bellies aren’t venomous. These are snakes found across North America, representing both aquatic and terrestrial species. Plain yellow coloring or yellow with dark stripes or bands is specific to the ventral side of these snakes. None of these snakes is truly harmful to humans but they can bite, sometimes painfully.
Do rat snakes have yellow bellies?
Eastern rat snakes in Florida are deep yellow, with a dark yellow belly. These snakes are typically jet black with dark yellow bellies, but the Florida subspecies “quadrivittata” is an exception, having a dark, rich yellow body covered in thin, dark vertical stripes.