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| Click HERE to download the new Lake Erie Watersnake Free Informational Brochure |
Common Name: Lake Erie Watersnake (SSAR circular), or alternatively Lake Erie Water Snake (CNAH list)
Actually, both spellings are accepted depending on who you ask. We'll let you decide which you would like to use.
Scientific Name: Nerodia sipedon insularum
Taxonomy:
Family: Colubridae
Sub-Family: Natricinae
Genus: Nerodia
Species: sipedon
Sub-species: insularum
Coloration: The differences in coloration between watersnakes residing along the shoreline of the Western Lake Erie
islands and those that are commonly observed within the nearby mainland marshes were first described by herpetologists
Roger Conant and William Clay in the late 1930's. The classically described Lake Erie Watersnake is solid grey and
patternless on its dorsal (back) side, with a cream colored vent (belly) also lacking any pattern. However, since island snake
populations are not completely isolated from the mainland, the color pattern of LEWS is more accurately described as
being reduced from that of the Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) which has pronounced patterning. In
fact, populations of LEWS have an extraordinary amount of variation in the amount of patterning, making their
identification based on color pattern alone very difficult. Coloration of LEWS are currently described by researchers as
being either Banded, Unbanded or Intermediate.
Actually, both spellings are accepted depending on who you ask. We'll let you decide which you would like to use.
Scientific Name: Nerodia sipedon insularum
Taxonomy:
Family: Colubridae
Sub-Family: Natricinae
Genus: Nerodia
Species: sipedon
Sub-species: insularum
Coloration: The differences in coloration between watersnakes residing along the shoreline of the Western Lake Erie
islands and those that are commonly observed within the nearby mainland marshes were first described by herpetologists
Roger Conant and William Clay in the late 1930's. The classically described Lake Erie Watersnake is solid grey and
patternless on its dorsal (back) side, with a cream colored vent (belly) also lacking any pattern. However, since island snake
populations are not completely isolated from the mainland, the color pattern of LEWS is more accurately described as
being reduced from that of the Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) which has pronounced patterning. In
fact, populations of LEWS have an extraordinary amount of variation in the amount of patterning, making their
identification based on color pattern alone very difficult. Coloration of LEWS are currently described by researchers as
being either Banded, Unbanded or Intermediate.
| Links to Additional LEWS Information Ohio Division of Wildlife USFWS Reynoldsburg Office Kelleys Island Audobon Lake Erie Islands Chapter of the Black Swamp Conservancy |
| Can You Identify The Banded, Unbanded and Intermediate Snakes in this Picture? |
