water snake
Pond-dwelling reptile
A water snake is any of various nonvenomous snakes that live in or near freshwater—swimming in rivers, ponds, and marshes and feeding mainly on fish and amphibians.
In North America, water snakes are often mistaken for venomous cottonmouths and killed unnecessarily.
The term applies broadly to aquatic snakes worldwide.
Plates or weighing devices
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
- ectothermicTemperature set by surroundings
fangs · nonvenomous · keelback · banded · constrictor · shedding · forked tongue · coil
Large flowing watercourse
- pondSmall still body
- lakeEnclosed body of freshwater
- streamSteady continuous flow
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
freshwater · wetland · marsh · swimming · submerged · slither · currents · waterway
Causing no injury
- nonvenomousProducing no poison
- cottonmouthVenomous semiaquatic pit viper
- mistakenIncorrectly understood or believed
- fearedInspiring dread or alarm
killed · misconception · stigma · myth · conservation · protected · education · misunderstood
Pierce with teeth
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- muskAnimal-derived fragrance base
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- threatIndication of potential harm
warning · misidentified · cottonmouth · confusion · startle · hazard · alarm · caution
Curving in flowing turns
- undulateMove in waves
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- meanderTo travel without direction
winding · slither · streamlined · graceful · ripple · propulsion · lateral · swift
Surprise strike from concealment
- preyAnimal being hunted
- fishGilled aquatic vertebrate
- frogsLeaping, croaking amphibians
- crayfishFreshwater pinching crustacean
minnows · tadpoles · strike · swallow · nocturnal · lurk · stalk · camouflage
Multi-headed mythical serpent
- sea serpentLegendary aquatic monster
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
- legendUnverified traditional tale
shapeshifter · deity · omen · guardian · supernatural
scales
Plates or weighing devices
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
ectothermic · fangs · nonvenomous · keelback · banded · constrictor · shedding · forked tongue · coil · basking
river
Large flowing watercourse
swamp · freshwater · wetland · marsh · swimming · submerged · slither · currents · waterway · creek
harmless
Causing no injury
- nonvenomousProducing no poison
- cottonmouthVenomous semiaquatic pit viper
- mistakenIncorrectly understood or believed
feared · killed · misconception · stigma · myth · conservation · protected · education · misunderstood · beneficial
bite
Pierce with teeth
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
- muskAnimal-derived fragrance base
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
threat · warning · misidentified · cottonmouth · confusion · startle · hazard · alarm · caution · flatten
sinuous
Curving in flowing turns
- undulateMove in waves
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
meander · winding · slither · streamlined · graceful · ripple · propulsion · lateral · swift · agile
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
crayfish · minnows · tadpoles · strike · swallow · nocturnal · lurk · stalk · camouflage · patience
Hydra
Multi-headed mythical serpent
- sea serpentLegendary aquatic monster
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- folkloreInherited cultural narratives
legend · shapeshifter · deity · omen · guardian · supernatural
- snakescobra, anaconda, boa, viper, python
- water snakesanaconda, green anaconda, cottonmouth
- Zulu traditionsancestors, ancestral spirits, diviner, traditional healer, ancestral worship
- reptileslizard, turtle, crocodile, alligator, python
- freshwater lifecatfish, trout, bass, salmon, frog
- freshwater wildlifebeaver, river otter, otter, muskrat, largemouth bass
water snakesidewinder
Snake that moves diagonally
rattlesnake · sand snake · rock python · cobra · king cobra
water, snake, watery, waters, snakes, watershed, snaking, waterless, snaked