Brown Watersnakes are large, between 30 and 60 inches long. The brown watersnake is a somewhat heavy bodied aquatic snake with light to dark brown coloring. This snake has large darker brown square blotches throughout it body, with one line of square blotches running down the center of the dorsum and two other lines running in alternating rows along the sides of the snake. The belly is usually light with brown splotches and black crescents. Brown watersnakes have strongly keeled scales and its head is visibly wider than its neck, giving this snake a slightly triangular appearance. Female brown watersnakes are much larger than males. Brown watersnakes are excellent swimmers and feed primarily on fish, particularly small catfish, which they capture either by ambush or by actively foraging along the edges or bottom of rivers and lakes. Brown watersnakes are also proficient climbers and often bask on vegetation or emergent snags up to 20 ft above the water. If startled, they will drop from their perch into the water and may accidentally end up in a passing boat.
