red belly

[bushsnake]

Nerodia e. erythrogaster, not a thamnophis but closely related. The best ones come from the coast of North Carolina and thats were these guys are from!

[snake man12]

Nerodia is water snake isn't it

[bushsnake]

yes it is..........

[youngster]

Nerodia is the genus that water snakes are in...
so yes

[kernel]

Once again, BEAUTIFUL!!!

[alessia55]

striking colors! Love how bright their bellies are!

[ashleynicole]

that is a gorgeous snake. I might see one in my future!

[jarich]

Really beautiful snakes! I wonder what the evolutionary selection was for in relation to their red belly?

[Wolfus_305]

They're beautiful snakes, gorgeous colours!

[bladeblaster]

lovely snakes

[alessia55]

Really beautiful snakes! I wonder what the evolutionary selection was for in relation to their red belly?

So I decided to google this. I didn't find anything pertaining to the red belly WATER snake (Nerodia e. erythrogaster), but I found information about the red belly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata). They both have a bright red/orange belly, so I presume that they might have it for the same reason.

Although camouflaged on top, if flipped over by a would-be predator, the bright belly may signal "I taste bad!". This may afford the snake just enough time to escape. Source. (http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/Snake/StoreriaOccipitomaculata#Temperament)

[infernalis]

Oops wrong thread...

[Kayla90]

:O He's a big guy.. I can't wait till my water snakes and garter get that big.. or at least as big as they'll get :P

[jarich]

Thanks Alessia!