Mud Snake
FamilyColubridae
Venom TypeNon-venomous
Max Length2 m
RangeSoutheastern US
HabitatSwamps, Slow streams
DietSalamanders, sirens
Danger LevelNone
About the Mud Snake
A glossy black snake with a bright red and black checkered belly, rarely seen because it spends most of its time hidden in mud and water. It feeds mainly on large aquatic salamanders called amphiumas and sirens. Its tail ends in a sharp but harmless spine used to hold slippery prey. This spine gave rise to the myth of the hoop snake. Females coil around their eggs.
Related Species
Milk Snake
A classic case of Batesian mimicry — their red, black, and yellow bands mimic th...
Corn Snake
One of the best beginner pet snakes — docile, easy to care for, and beautiful. N...
Western Hognose
Famous for their dramatic death-feigning behavior — they roll onto their back, t...
King Snake
Immune to the venom of rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths — they eat th...