Nature Quiz TMN-COT Meeting October, 2013

by Phil Huxford

Water Snakes and Venomous Snakes

Photo compilation – Peggy Romfh

Photo by Dave Brandes

Species Quiz # 1

Clues:

Elliptical eye pupils

Bright yellow

underneath

Found around

ponds, lakes,

swamps, and wet

bottomland forests

2 – 3 feet long

Photo by Dave Brandes

Species Quiz # 2

Clues:

Black-edged; dark brown

dorsal markings

Yellow or sometimes

orange belly

Lives in small ponds,

ditches, and rain-filled

pools

Typically 2 – 5 feet long

Ramona R., Fulshear

http://bugsinthenews.info

Chris Stein

http://bugsinthenews.info

http://www.uta.edu/biology

Photo by Dave Brandes

Species Quiz # 3

Clues:

Dark, wide bands

separated by yellow

Bold, dark checked

stripes

Strong swimmer

2 – 4 feet long

Photo by Pete Romfh

Species Quiz # 4

Clues

Heavy-bodied, large

girth

Can be dark brown

Head somewhat

flattened and wide

Texas’ largest Nerodia

Strikes without

warning and viciously

4 – 6’ long

Photo by Dave Brandes

Photo by Michael Smith

http://www.uta.edu/biology/

Species Quiz # 5

Clues:

Lives in our area but

rarely seen

Glossy black above

Red belly with black lines

in belly

Found in wooded

swampland and wet areas

Does not bite when

handled but pokes tail

like stinger

3 – 4 feet long

Photo by J.D. Wilson

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/

Photo by J.D. Wilson

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/

Juvenile

Species Quiz # 6

Clues:

Blunt head; shiny,

slender body

Round pupils

Colors red, yellow,

black

Lives in partly wooded

organic material

Usually 2 – 3 feet long

Record: 47 ¾ inches in

Brazoria County

Herps of Texas

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/

Species Quiz # 7

Clues:

Hourglass, dark cross

bands over light tan

color

Found everywhere in

Brazoria County

Typically 1 – 2 feet;

record is 3 feet 4

inches

Yellowish tail tips in

young

Photo by Neal McLain

Herps of Texas

Species Quiz # 8

Clues:

Chunky body, stubby tail,

angular

Flat-topped head, wide

jaws

Typically dark and lack

luster

Found typically in small

ponds, ditches, and rain-

filled pools

1 – 2 feet long but could

be up to 4 feet long

Photos by Carl J. Franklin

http://www.uta.edu/

Species Quiz # 9

Clues:

Black and white bands on

tail

Lateral head markings

Tail has segments

Found in plant-covered

sand dunes

3 – 4 feet; record 6 feet in

Rio Grande Valley

Responsible for no snake

fatalities in Texas

Herps of Texas

Photo by K.C. Rudy

http://www.uta.edu/biology

Photo by J.D. Wilson

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes

Species Quiz # 10

Clues:

Greyish brown to pinkish

grey

Reddish brown stripe

along spine

Found in moist lowland

forests and woodlands

near river

4 – 5 feet long; record 6

feet 4 inches

Mild temperament; not

easily aroused

Photo by J.D. Wilson

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes

Photo by Dave Brandes

Species Quiz # 1

Answer:

Yellow-bellied Water

Snake

Plain-bellied Water

Snake

Nerodia

erythrogaster

flavigaster

Photo by Dave Brandes

Species Quiz # 2

Answer:

Blotched Water Snake

Norardia erythrogaster

transversa

Ramona R., Fulshear

http://bugsinthenews.info

Chris Stein

http://bugsinthenews.info

http://www.uta.edu/biology

Photo by Dave Brandes

Species Quiz # 3

Answer:

Broad-banded Water

snake

Nerodia fasciata

confluens Photo by Pete Romfh

Species Quiz # 4

Answer:

Diamond-back

Water Snake

Northern Diamond-

back Water Snake

Nerodia rhombifer

Photo by Dave Brandes

Photo by Michael Smith

http://www.uta.edu/biology/

Species Quiz # 5

Answer:

Western Mud Snake

Mud Snake

Farancia abacura

Photo by J.D. Wilson

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/

Photo by J.D. Wilson

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/

Juvenile

Species Quiz # 6

Answer:

Texas Coral Snake

Micrurus fulvius

tenere

‘Red touches yellow -

kill a fellow

Red touches black -

venom lack’

Herps of Texas

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/

Species Quiz # 7

Answer:

Southern

Copperhead

Copperhead

Agkistrodon

contortrix contortrix

Most abundant

venomous snake in

Brazoria County

Photo by Neal McLain

Herps of Texas

Species Quiz # 8

Answer:

Western

Cottonmouth

Agkistrodon

piscivorus

leucostoma

Photos by Carl J. Franklin

http://www.uta.edu/

Species Quiz # 9

Answer:

Western

diamondback

rattlesnake

Crotalus atrox

Herps of Texas

Photo by K.C. Rudy

http://www.uta.edu/biology

Photo by J.D. Wilson

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes

Species Quiz # 10

Answer:

Canebrake

Rattlesnake

Crotalus horridus

Photo by J.D. Wilson

http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes

Reference

Texas Snakes : A Field Guide

by James Ray Dixon and John E. Werler

and Regina Levoy, 2010