Glossy Crayfish Water Snake

Breeding:
Poorly known. 7-14 young, about 7” long, are born in summer.

Habitat:
Mucky situations along streams or around edges of ponds, lakes, swamps, freshwater tidal marshes, rice fields, flatwood ponds, floodplains.

Range:
Coastal plain, ne. North Carolina to c. Florida, west to e. Texas. Isolated population in e. Virginia

Subspecies:
Glossy, narrow dark lines on sides of throat, 2 preocular scales; coastal plain, Virginia to c. Florida. Delta, no lines on throat, 1 preocular scale; Mississippi Delta.
Gulf, no lines on sides of throat, 2 preocular scales; Gulf coastal plain c. Georgia to e. Texas.Seldom seen. Usually observed at night crossing roads or found amid mats of aquatic vegetation. Sometimes call “stiff snake” because of its rigid body tone. Eats crayfish, dwarf sirens, fish, frogs, and dragonfly nymphs.