Brazos water snake

The Brazos water snake (Nerodia harteri), also called commonly Harter's water snake, is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Texas in the United States.

Brazos water snake
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Nerodia
Species:	N. harteri
Binomial name
Nerodia harteri (Trapido, 1941)
Synonyms[2]
Natrix harteri Trapido, 1941 Nerodia harteri — Mecham, 1983

Geographic range

Nerodia harteri is found only in Central Texas in the Brazos River system.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred habitat of N. harteri is rocky areas along the Brazos River.^[2]

Conservation status

Due to its limited range, N. harteri is considered to be a near-threatened species in 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.^[3][4]

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.