Different snakes are called water snakes. Most are colubrids. "Water snake" is also sometimes used as a descriptive term for any snakes that spend a significant time in or near fresh water, such as any species belonging to the family Acrochordidae. They should not be confused with sea snakes, which live primarily or entirely in marine environments.
Examples of snakes called water snakes include:
- Enhydris species, including:
- Enhydris chinensis – Chinese Water Snake
- Enhydris dussumieri – Dussumier's Water Snake
- Enhydris enhydris – Rainbow Water Snake
- Enhydris sieboldi – Siebold's Water Snake
- Helicops species, including:
- Helicops angulatus – Brown-banded Water Snake
- Hydrodynastes species, including:
- Hydrodynastes gigas – False Water Snake or Brazilian Smooth Snake
- Liophis species, including:
- Liophis cobellus
- Liophis reginae
- Nerodia species
- Opisthotropis species
- Sinonatrix species, including:
- Sinonatrix percarinata – Eastern Water Snake
- Xenochrophis species, including:
- Xenochrophis piscator – Asiatic Water Snake or Chequered Keelback
Famous quotes containing the words water and/or snake:
“Once it was a boat, quite wooden
and with no business, no salt water under it
and in need of some paint. It was no more
than a group of boards. But you hoisted her, rigged her.
She’s been elected.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“The great snake lies ever half awake, at the bottom of the pit of the world, curled
In folds of himself until he awakens in hunger and moving his head to right and to left prepares for his hour to devour.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)