Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Nerodia harteri Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Colubridae Higher classification Nerodia | |
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Similar Nerodia paucimaculata, Snake, Nerodia, Reptile, Colubridae | ||
The Brazos water snake or Harter's water snake (Nerodia harteri ) is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake native to the United States.
Contents
Geographic range
N. harteri is found only in northcentral Texas along the Brazos River system.
Conservation status
Due to its limited range, N. harteri is considered to be a threatened species in the State of Texas.
Etymology
The specific name or epithet, harteri, is in honor of American amateur herpetologist Philip Harter, who collected the first specimen in Palo Pinto County in 1936.
Description
The Brazos water snake grows to a total length (including tail) of 16 to 32 inches (41–81 cm), and ranges in color from brown to olive green. It has two rows of spots that go down either side of its back, and has a pink or orange underside with dark spots down either side.