Picture of Lake Erie Watersnake

Learn About The
Endangered Lake Erie Water Snake

LAKE ERIE WATER SNAKE SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

KINGDOM	Animalia
PHYLUM	Chordata
CLASS	Reptilia
ORDER	Squamata
SUBORDER	Serpents
FAMILY	Colubridae
GENUS	Nerodia
SPECIES	sipedon
SUBSPECIES	insularum
Common Name	Lake Erie Watersnake

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SNAKES:

• Snakes belong to the class Reptilia, which includes the
  snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles.
• They are reptiles characterized by elongated bodies and
  a lack of limbs.
• Snakes are the most modern of reptiles, first appearing
  in the fossil record during the time of the dinosaurs.
• It is thought that they evolved from ground dwelling
  or burrowing lizards that exploited the survival advantages
  to be found in a cylindrical, legless body.
• They gave up external ears and developed clear scales
  to shield their ever-open eyes from dust and damage.
• They also developed instinctive behaviors that enables
  them to find and catch prey, hide from predators, reproduce
  and survive in a great variety of climates.
• They are distributed through most parts of the world.
• Snakes range in length from 5 inches to more than
  30 feet.
• They are closely related to lizards, but do not have
  external ears or eyelids.
• The internal organs of snakes are slightly modified
  due to their unique body structure. Many snakes do not have
  a fully developed left lung.
• Snakes have no eyelids. Their eyes are protected by a
  transparent layer of skin over the eye.
• Its skin is dry and scaly, and not slimy like some
  people believe. The snake scales are made of keratin,
  the same substance that makes up our fingernails.
• They have forked tongues that are used to sample the particles from the air. They put these particles into a
  special highly sensitive organ (Jacobson's organ) in the
  roof of the mouth.
• Rather than smelling, as we do, snakes taste the air
  using this organ.
• When a snake flicks its tongue at you it is merely
  trying to figure out what you are.
• The environment temperatures affect the activity of
  snakes. As they cannot generate their own body heat
  snakes remain relatively inactive when it is too cold.
• They cannot tolerate extremely high temperatures either
  so most snakes are active during mild temperatures.
• All snakes are animals eaters. The primary food items
  for most of them are insects, fish, amphibians, birds,
  rodents, eggs, and other reptiles.
• The most common form of defense by snakes is avoidance.
  At the first sign of danger, they usually flee. Any other
  defensive behavior by a snake, such as biting or striking
  is usually a last resort.
• All snakes have teeth and will bite if they feel
  threatened and have no means of escape.
• This does not mean that all snakes have fangs.
  Even though all snakes have teeth not all have fangs.
  Fangs are like hypodermic needles that can inject venom
  into a victim.
• Breeding occurs during spring or fall. Some species
  lay eggs in early summer. Embryonic snakes develop in about
  two months and hatch in late summer or early fall.

THE LAKE ERIE WATERSNAKE
NERODIA SIPEDON INSULARUM

• This snake is found in Ohio and a small part of
  adjacent Ontario, Canada.
• The Lake Erie water snake is found only in a small area of Lake Erie.
• There are no estimates of the size of the Canadian
  population of Lake Erie water snakes, but they have
  decreased in the last few decades.
• The Lake Erie water snake was designated endangered
  in 1991.
• It is a non-venomous snake.
• It has a large head with shiny scales on the head,
  and dull scales on the rest of the body.
• Its color is pale grey, with no pattern, or a little
  bit of patterns.
• Female adult Lake Erie water snakes measure 56.2 to
  115.1 cm, while males measure 68.5 to 90.0 cm.
• These snakes inhabit the shoreline except during
  hibernation when they move inland.
• Hibernation occurs away from water in abandoned
  quarries and deserted cisterns.
• They prefer the shrub and tree line along beaches
  and rocky shores.
• They feed on fish and amphibians.
• The male Lake Erie water snakes reach sexual maturity
  at 2 years of age, while females reach sexual maturity at
  3 years of age.
• When threatened, the Lake Erie water snake will flatten
  its head and body, strike and bite, and release a strong
  smelling odor.

WHY IS THIS FASCINATING SNAKE ENDANGERED

• The destruction of its habitat is the main limiting
  factor for Lake Erie water snakes.
• Habitat loss or degradation due to development of
  their shoreline habitat.
• Eradication by people mistaking the snake as poisonous.
• The persecution and slaughter by humans has also
  contributed to the decline of Lake Erie water snake.
• The pesticides and oil pollution are also a threat to
  the populations of Lake Erie water snakes.
• They are vulnerable to genetic absorption through
  interbreeding with the common northern water snake.

TO HELP PROTECT THE LAKE ERIE WATERSNAKE:

• In Canada, the Lake Erie water snake is listed as
  endangered under Ontario's Endangered Species Act.
• It is proposed to be listed as threatened in the
  United States.
• The Lake Erie water snake was proposed to be added
  to the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
  and Plants on August 18, 1993.
• If the snake is officially listed as a threatened
  species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will develop
  a recovery plan that describes actions needed to help
  the snake survive.
• Researchers will study the Lake Erie water snake to
  find the best way to manage for the snake and its habitat.
• Where possible, the snake's habitat will be protected
  and improved.
• Public education programs will be developed to raise
  awareness of the snake's condition.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO
HELP PROTECT THE LAKE ERIE WATERSNAKE:

• Learn more about the Lake Erie water snake and other
  endangered and threatened species.
• Understand how the destruction of habitat leads to
  loss of endangered and threatened species.
• Tell others all that you have learned about these
  endangered species.
• Write to the pertinent governmental agencies and
  the state fish and game agency to tell them that you care
  about the endangered and threatened species.
• Join a conservation group as many have local chapters.

Music From: I Will Survive

Last Updated: 2-Feb-1999
WebMaster: Daisy Moreno daisymoreno@HotMail.com
Copyright © 1999. All rights reserved

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