Characteristics:
     This large watersnake, over 3ft, looks very similar to the diamondbacked watersnake. The mississippi green watersnake is the only watersnake in IL that has a subocular scale between eye and supralabial scales. The back scales are strongly keeled. They have an overall greenish brown color with a blochy pattern of dark makings. Their belly is dark brown or even black with small, off-white, half moon shaped markings on the scales.

Habitat:
    This snake only exists in the extreme southern counties of IL. They are most commonly found in the cypress-tulepo swamps.


Behavior:
    This snake is listed as threatened in IL and can only be seen at a few locations. They subsist on a diet of mostly fish, but will also eat amphibians. They mate in May and give birth to live offspring in mid to late summer. They are primarily nocturnal but can be observed basking in the day on partially submerged logs. This is one of the unlucky snakes that share habitat with the cottonmouth. That means that they are often killed due to mis-identification. Aside from indiscriminate killing, these snakes also face wetland drainage.


Personal Remarks:
    This is a very uncommon snake here in IL. We have only ever seen them at one location. I think I have only seen a total of 2 live ones and 1 DOR in my entire life. They are very much a "watersnake" if you know what I mean. Bad attitude no matter what. The small one in the pictures above was throwing strikes at us even before we had walked all the way up to it.