Snake ID

[ecampbell]

This guy just crawled up an imbankment from a small stream at Hampton Furnace. The orange neck is throwing me off.

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=441&pos=1

http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=441&pos=3

 

[dragoncjo]

It is a water snake to my knowledge, but I'm not a snake expert by any means, on fieldherpers someone else was thrown off by the oragnge belly thing. Nice looking snake though, looks fat.
http://www.fieldherpers.com//view.php?site=fieldherpers&bn=fieldherpers_fieldherping&key=1147828499

 

[woodjin]

I would say northern water snake also. They tend to get darker as they get older I think, or maybe it is related to shedding. The herp guys will know.

 

[Krloucks]

Nice looking northern water snake.

 

[Teegate]

Nice find Ed!

Guy

 

[uuglypher]

I would say northern water snake also. They tend to get darker as they get older I think, or maybe it is related to shedding. The herp guys will know.

I agree with Jeff- it's a young, recently-shed northern water snake. The orange and maroon regions will darken with age until it becomes and old, basically black, patternless snake - until its scales are spread ( after a big meal, when flattening the body as part of its defense display...) to reveal the original pattern (but not the vibrant colors) in the thin, interscutal skin.

Dave