Copperbelly Snake

Adopt-a-speciesSnake, copperbelly water IN north of 400 N. Lat., MI, OHScientific name Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta Threatened.

I’m Delicia, and I am going to introduce you to the Copperbelly Water Snake also know as Nerodia Erythrogaster Neglecta. For those of you who do not know about snakes then their is certainly a lot to learn because this is only one of many snakes. For the people who like snakes and like to learn about them and their interesting facts then I am sure there is something in here for you to learn.

Adult copperbellies are
uniformly dark brown to
black on their dorsal
surface, and have an
orange, red, or perhaps
even yellowish belly, the
color of which extends up
onto the chin. The dark
dorsal may appear as ‘fingerlike’
projections of color
‘bleeding’ down from the
lateral scales. In some cases,
the dark coloration can
heavily invade the belly
color as dark bands. Copperbellies can be quite large, the adults can grow to lengths of 40-50 inches.

Copperbelly’s should be of shallow slope, so that as the wetland dries, areas of less
than 30 cm (about 12 inches) in depth are extensive. These shallow areas provide them of good habitat. When wetlands get deeper, they wait one to three years for it to dry up.
Unlike many
other water snakes, copperbellies may
travel hundreds of meters away from
wetlands. Uplands are used for a
variety of reasons, for example for travel,
shedding, birthing, digestion, refuge
during stressful weather (hot and cold),
and other times when the snakes may be more vulnerable in wetlands.

Copperbellies typically forage in
extremely shallow water, in the order
of 5-10cm, or even less. While they may
rest and bask on logs and shrubs in areas
with deeper water, they do not utilize
deep, open water except as a travel lane. copperbellies will
rest on logs and low branches, often just
a few cm above the water. They will also
use shorelines and levees. If surprised or
disturbed, they will slide into the water to
escape.

From the south, the range of the copperbelly begins in southeastern Illinois, western
Tennessee, and northwestern Kentucky. In these areas, the copperbelly often co-occurs
with the yellowbelly. Most copperbelly populations, and most of the individuals, occur
within southernmost portion of the snake’s range. In southern Ind iana, populations occur
along the floodplains of all of the southwestern streams. As these flood zones narrow,
copperbellies disappear.
The copperbelly is listed as Endangered by the states of Indiana, Michigan, and
Ohio, and conferred special legal protection in Illinois and Kentucky. The
copperbelly is also listed as Threatened at the Federal level by the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) above the 40 Parallel.

http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/SpeciesReport.do?groups=C&listingType=L&mapstatus=
http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/snakes/Copperbelly_water_snake/CopperbellyFactSheet.pdf