We have 8 species of watersnake (Nerodia) in the state.
Yellowbellied watersnakes and blotched watersnakes are the same species. In the east they look like this:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/1713/26087136532_39c9a010df_4k.jpg)
Central and western part of the state they look more like this:
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/924/42237367195_41b9860e91_4k.jpg)
Broad-banded watersnakes almost always have orange/yellow broadly spaced bands and bright faces
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/5676/23907004522_9a9dfefec7_4k.jpg)
Diamondback watersnakes have a distinctive greenish/tan color and chainlink pattern ("diamonds" on top)
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50215742918_6d8a7f6d32_5k.jpg)
And a few that never get posted but are present in Texas:
Mississippi green watersnakes are fairly non-descript. Pattern similar to diamondbacks. Pretty much only turn up in marshy areas in the far eastern part of the state
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/8118/8657172760_8b717b3707_3k.jpg)
Gulf saltmarsh snakes are striped and live in brackish coastal habitats
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/4312/36077084311_aaa6355eb8_3k.jpg)
There's an interesting population (and only one in the state) of northern watersnakes in central/north Dallas. Debated whether they are native or introduced.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/676/20776001818_a3f9a47dc8_k.jpg)
One of the few endemic herps to Texas, the Brazos River watersnake. Only found in the Brazos and a few tribs north of Glenrose or so.
![](https://live.staticflickr.com/1878/43594228315_91d2763eaf_4k.jpg)
I don't have any photos of the last species, the Concho watersnake. They look a lot like the Brazos though.