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The upper surface of an animal
Identification
The copperbelly is uniformly dark brown to black on its dorsal
surface, and has an orange, red, or perhaps even yellowish underside. This belly
color extends up onto the chin. A feature which defines the copperbelly from
its more southern non-endangered relative, the yellowbelly, is that the dark
color on the back protrudes in finger-like extensions into the belly color on
the copperbelly, while it does not do so with the yellowbelly. Juvenile Copperbelly
Water Snakes have a blotched pattern similar to that of other young water snakes,
and thus may be misidentified. However, a key separator is the lack of dark
crescents of color on the belly of juvenile copperbellies, a feature which is
present on species like the Northern Water
Snake. Copperbellies can also be quite large with adults growing to
lengths of 40-50 inches.
Distribution and Status
The Copperbelly Water Snake's distribution has been separated into several distinct
geographic areas. Small, isolated populations persist in northwestern Ohio,
southern Michigan and northern Indiana. These are the federally
listed populations. Another isolated population complex occurs around Seymour,
Indiana. More extensive populations can be found in southwestern Indiana and
in adjacent areas of southeastern Illinois, and northwestern Kentucky. MAP.
The copperbelly has some form of protection in every state within which it occurs.
The southern populations are protected by the Copperbelly Water Snake
Conservation Agreement. Click HERE
for state by state status descriptions.
Ecology
Copperbellies use multiple wetlands and move between them frequently. They prefer
the shallow edges of open water wetlands such as beaver ponds or small lakes,
shrubby swamps, shallow woodland ponds, and slow moving streams associated with
floodplain woods. Across their range they are also well-known for their use
of upland areas, and in the summer months may spend more of their time in uplands
than in wetlands. Copperbellies also travel long distances. Individuals may
have a large home range (up to 50 acres or more) and can often be found far
away from water. Because of this behavior, they are susceptible to mortality
by human encounters, predation and from being struck by vehicles while crossing
roads.
Threats and Management Issues
Extensive loss of habitat, largely due to wetland drainage and conversion for
agricultural purposes and surface mining, has caused copperbelly populations
to decline. As a result of this, habitat conservation and restoration efforts
need to be a high priority in conservation plans for this species. The conservation
and restoration of wetlands with varying hydroperiods, especially shallow, ephemeral
wetland complexes with safe movement corridors to adjacent upland habitat is
vitally important for this species. Land managers and owners can find some excellent
ideas on wetland habitat conservation and restoration in the Habitat
Management Guidelines for Reptiles and Amphibians of the Midwest.
Resources
General reference
guides and websites.
Bruce Kingsbury, Director
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management
Science Building
Indiana-Purdue University
2101 East Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499