Diamond-backed Water Snake

Tropidonotus rhombifer, (Hallowell)

Colouration: Brown or olive, with a narrow chain of black markings down the back, enclosing diamond-shaped areas of the ground-colour. At the junction of each rhomb the black is widest. From the lower angle of each "diamond" is a band of black, about two scales wide, extending down the side of the body.
Dimensions: One of the largest species of the genus, attaining a length of five feet. Following are the dimensions of a fair-sized adult:
Distribution: Abundant in the lower Mississippi River valley. It occurs from southern Illinois and Indiana into Texas, in which latter state it extends over considerable area; it also occurs in Mexico.
Habits: Sinister in appearance, this big water snake does not belie its looks. It is usually of a vicious disposition, even after being months in captivity, though hardy and partaking voraciously of frogs and fishes. The species shows a peculiar fondness for climbing, and numbers of captive specimens spent the most of their time coiled and entwined in the branches of a small tree in their cage. Directly beneath these branches was a tank. When living fish were placed in the tank the snakes at once became alert, slipping down quickly from branch to branch, and finally dropping into the tank from a height of a yard or so, when they rapidly swam about with open mouths, in the capture of the fish, which consumed but a few minutes' time. When the tank had been cleared of fish the snakes again ascended the tree to await the assimilation of the meal.

Large in size and very stout in form, with very distinct head, on which the lip plates are protruding and swollen, producing a sinister mien. The eyes are placed well forward, toward the snout.

The abdomen is yellow, the edges of the abdominal plates being blotched with dark brown, a character more pronounced on the latter portion of the body.

Young specimens are yellowish-brown, with the chain of markings on the back and bands on the side very black and in strong contrast to the ground-colour.

Total Length . . . . . 4 feet, 1 inch.

Length of Tail . . . . . 10 inches.

Diameter of Body . . . . . 1 3/4 inches.

Width of Head . . . . . 1 3/8 inches.

Length of Head . . . . . 2 1/4 inches.

These specimens never became tame, and would flatten their bodies and strike repeatedly at the hand of their keeper if in any way interfered with.

A large specimen from Texas gave birth to sixteen young. These were very large in proportion to the size of the mother. They were fed upon minnows and grew rapidly. Within a year they were but a few inches shorter than their parent.