Lake Erie Watersnake

If all that matters is locality, this is a Lake Erie Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon insularum) caught on the shore near Put-In-Bay, South Bass Island.  However, N. s. insularum tends to have less pronounced patterning and an overall darker color than the mainland sub-species (sipedon), and this individual seems to fit that description.  Interbreeding does occur, so it could even be a ‘hybrid’.  Perhaps only genotyping will allow certainty…

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