This is a video I took in June of 2015 of a medium sized Diamondback Watersnake. I caught this snake on the Pedernales River just below one of the dams. This is a very common snake throughout Texas and is one that is commonly misidentified as a Water Moccasin. The Diamondback Watersnake is non venomous and looks nothing like a Water Moccasin. Some of the most distinguished features of a Diamondback Watersnake are the gray color of the scales with a pattern of weaving black stripes down the back. The stripes cross each other giving a diamond like pattern from which the snake gets it's name. They have orange eyes and a round pupil which is a dead giveaway that they are not Water Moccasins which will have a cat shaped eye.
These snakes are aggressive and will bite when captured or cornered. I have been bitten hundreds of times catching this species. I have heard rumors that they possess a mild toxin in their saliva that can make you sick. I personally do not believe this as I have been bit numerous times within minutes of each other and never felt any sickness.
Diamondback Watersnake eat frogs, fish and other aquatic animals. I have had large adult snakes regurgitate perch that were 4-6 inches in length. I have also seen Diamondback Watersnakes attempt to eat fish on a stringer that were 6+ inches.
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