The green water snake is greenish brown with small, indistinct dark markings on its back. The markings are more recognizable in juveniles. The belly is dark gray with small, yellow half-moon spots. When fully grown, green water snakes can be 4.5 feet long. You might encounter this species around streams, ditches, bayous, marshes or swamps in the southeastern two-thirds of the state.
Areas thickly grown with water plants are preferred habitat.
Fish are their primary food. Yellow-bellied water snakes grow to slightly more than five feet. An unmarked belly of yellow or orange-yellow distinguishes this species. Adults have no markings on their backs, which may be dark reddish-brown, brown or greenish. One of this snake's interesting habits is wrapping its tail around a tree branch and dangling its head in the water to catch fish.