Red-bellied Mudsnake
Farancia abacura
Description
The Red-bellied Mudsnake is one of the most beautiful and unmistakable snakes found at Snake Road. Adults have a glossy jet-black back with brilliant red or pink bars extending upward from a vivid red belly. The pattern varies considerably from one individual to another, with some snakes showing only narrow red markings while others display extensive red along the sides.
The body is heavy and cylindrical with smooth, highly polished scales that give the snake an almost iridescent appearance when viewed in sunlight. The head is small, blunt, and barely wider than the neck, while the tail ends in a sharply pointed tip often referred to as a tail spine.
Despite their impressive size, Mudsnakes are remarkably gentle animals. Rumor has it that this species can even cause grown men to spontaneously leap into the air...
(When you meet Randy on the road, make sure you ask him about it!)
Behavior
Mudsnakes are among the most secretive large snakes at Snake Road. They spend much of their lives in swamps, flooded forests, sloughs, and other wetlands, often remaining hidden beneath submerged vegetation, logs, or debris.
They are primarily active at night but are occasionally encountered moving during the day, especially during the spring and fall migrations. When threatened, Mudsnakes rarely attempt to bite. Instead, they often tuck their head beneath coils of their body and point the sharp tip of the tail toward a potential predator. Although folklore claims they can "sting" with the tail, the tail spine is completely harmless.
Mudsnakes at Snake Road feed almost exclusively on lesser sirens, making them one of the most specialized predators in North America.
Habitat
At Snake Road, Mudsnakes are closely associated with the swamp and flooded bottomlands west of the road. They inhabit slow-moving water filled with submerged logs, aquatic vegetation, and soft mud, where their preferred prey is most abundant. During seasonal migrations, they occasionally cross Snake Road while traveling between aquatic habitats and overwintering sites in the nearby limestone bluffs.
Where You're Most Likely to See One
Mudsnakes are among the least frequently encountered snakes at Snake Road. Most sightings occur near the swamp or roadside ditches during the spring and fall migrations, particularly following rainy weather or periods of high humidity. Because they spend so much time hidden in the water, every Mudsnake sighting is memorable.
Commonly Confused With
Eastern Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigraFrom a distance, both species can appear glossy black. However, Eastern Black Kingsnakes usually have numerous yellow or white speckles scattered across the body and lack any red coloration on the belly or sides. Mudsnakes have a plain black back paired with a brilliant red underside that often extends upward onto the lower sides.
- Plain, glossy black back
- Bright red or pink underside
- Red markings often extend onto the sides
- Heavy, cylindrical body
- Sharply pointed tail tip
- Usually has yellow or white speckling
- No brilliant red belly or side markings
- More conventionally shaped head and body
- Not restricted to aquatic habitats
- Lacks the Mudsnake's pointed tail tip
Gray Ratsnake
Pantherophis spiloidesLarge adult Gray Ratsnakes are also predominantly black but have weakly keeled scales and a more elongated head. Mudsnakes have smooth, highly polished scales, a smaller blunt head, and are almost always associated with wetlands. If the underside is visible, the bright red belly immediately identifies a Mudsnake.
- Smooth, highly polished scales
- Small, blunt head
- Heavy, cylindrical body
- Bright red underside
- Closely associated with wetlands
- Weakly keeled scales
- More elongated head
- Longer, more tapered body
- No brilliant red underside
- Frequently climbs trees and other structures
