Help with Identification
 

One of my neighbors found this baby and brought it to me to see what it was...but ive never seen a baby like this before...Im thinking it is a Racer ? or maby a brown banded water?

Any help identifying would be appreciated.

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...n/PICT0532.jpg

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/u...n/PICT0540.jpg

I can tell you this much, its a water snake, not a racer.

According to the book "Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia" this looks like a naturally occurring hybrid between the Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata) and the Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon).

I believe it is a northern water...the northern's start with a banding pattern and end up with blotches....

I have caught many northerns...never seen a baby though

I surprised no one has said a brown watersnake neonate. They are in Georgia.

Nerodia taxispilota

I dont believe it to be a brown because the brown is blotched from head to tail...that baby is clearly banded in the front 3rd of the body

I don't think it's a brown water snake either. Browns have more bulbous eyes and a more 'bulldog' look (combination of large, more dorsally located eyes and a proportionately shorter snout) than northerns or bandeds. My vote is for banded or an integrade northern x banded. It'll be easier to ID as it gets older. Neonate colubrids can be tough.

You are correct. The bands are that of a northern watersnake, but the colors seem off. I agree with the consensus. Probably is a hybrid. Interesting find!