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Settle A Disagreement
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by pitbulllady on October 3, 2008
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I post art work and photos on an art site called DeviantArt.com, on which there are several categories of pics, including a section for reptiles. A college students posted this photo he/she took of a snake in the college atrium, and insists this snake is a "Water Moccasin". I strongly believe it's a Banded Water Snake, but want to see what you guys think, especially those of you who have considerable experience catching and keeping Cottonmouths. I told him I'd either link him back to this site or post the comments on his page.
Here's the snake in question: http://mooseinakilt.deviantart.com/art/Pretty-Poison-99617680
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by pitbulllady on October 3, 2008
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I have four species of Nerodia, including N. fasciata, myself. This kid argues that he/she is a "herpetology" person, yet doesn't even know the difference between "venomous" and "poisonous", let alone the differences between a Cottonmouth and a Water Snake.
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by earthguy on October 3, 2008
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Undoubtedly Nerodia. My master's thesis was all about Agkistrodon, and I think that I am familiar with both genera. With a 3' cottommouth you should be able to see pitsat that distance. The head shape, body position, and markings all scream nerodia. If that doesn't convince you, look at the labial scales. Those are elongate and neatly vertical. Those of the Agkistrodon (and other viperidae) are generally blockish.
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by toddg on October 3, 2008
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The eyes appear to be too far foreward and the labiels don't look right for mouth-ala-cotton. The apparent lack of venom glands also is a dead give away.
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by theemojohnm on October 3, 2008
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Clearly a colubrid.
This snake IS in fact a banded watersnake, just a bit darker colored one. (Nerodia fasciata).
The two snakes mentioned happen to be THE TWO MAIN species I have kept and worked with extensively.
Here in PA, we have the Nerodia s. sipedon or "Northern Water snake" but I have kept almost ALL of the Nerodia group, and still do.
ASWELL, as ALL the cotton subspecies. This question is right up my alley. =) LOL...
By the way, I know this is a venomous site, but I am in the process of writing a comprehensive nerodia care guide if anyone is interested. The Nerodia are the only "non-vens" I keep these days.
Lot of baby sipedon, and pleuralis too if anyone wants CB Nerodia.. LOL..
Take Care.
~John.
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by Cro on October 3, 2008
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It always amazes me, that us snake folk can take a half second look at the snake in the photo, and know that it is not a Cottonmouth. It might take a bit longer to decide just what kind of water snake that it is, but the judgement that it is not a Cottonmouth happens in an instant.
To us, it is as different as a goat is from a dog. There is no question as to the identification of the snake.
It does not take scale counts, it does not take seeing facial pits. It just registers. All of the features come together at once.
Most folks can look at dogs, and instantly say, thats a German shepherd, or thats a beagle, or thats a poodle, or thats a taco-bell dog. They have learned the instant recognition of dogs. Why is it so difficult for non-snake folks to learn the instant recognition of common snakes ?
Best Regards John Z
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by LadyBloodRose on October 4, 2008
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whats sad is even my bf could look at that picture an tell you its not a cottonmouth an he realy isn't even into snakes!
"I'm a herpetology person myself"
that line cracked me up. She must be realy new to the feild lol.
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