Characteristics:
     This large, almost 5ft, snake is very smooth and glossy in appearance. The back scales are black and the belly is bright red with black bars. The tip if the tail is hard and "spine-like". Nothing else in this area looks like the mudsnake so it is very easy to identify.

*Note: The mudsnake we have here in MO and IL is considered a subspecies called the western mudsnake (F. a. reinwardtii)


Habitat:
    Found in swamps and sloughs in the most southern countries here in IL and only in a few south eastern counties in MO.


Behavior:
   This large brightly colored snake is hardly ever seen due to its secretive habits. It is an aquatic snake that spends much of its time in water searching for prey. It is a very specialized predator only eating a few different things, primarily aquatic salamanders like the lesser siren. The mudsnake mates in  summer and lays eggs a few weeks later.
    When threatened the mudsnake will use the hard tip on its tail to poke the hand of anyone holding it. This behavior gave rise to a rather strange myth about this snake. It is called the Hoop Snake in folk lore and it is said that it can put its tail in its mouth and roll down a hill after you and can use the spine on its tail to deliver a fatal sting. Of course, none of that is true. The spine on the tail is completely harmless it cannot even puncture the skin.


Personal Remarks: This is the "Holy Grail" of snakes here in IL. Everyone wants to see one, and very few people ever find one. I was lucky enough to see one at Snake Road one year. A pretty amazing snake to see up close. I hope to see another one sometime, but then again I have been saying that for a while now.