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You are viewing an archived site. The Chesapeake Bay Introduced Species Database project ended in 2020 and the database is no longer receiving updates. Learn more…
Image of Natrix tessellata

Natrix tessellata

Reptiles-Snakes

Checkered Water Snake

Every day thousands of containers of cargo from around the world arrive into the United States. Any of these containers could contain organisms from overseas ports that were unknowingly trapped onboard. The Checkered Water Snake (Dice Snake) arrived into the US along with cargo from Europe and was discovered in a warehouse at the Norfolk Navy Base, Norfolk VA, where the cargo was unloaded. Luckily, this was the only time this species has been collected in North America and it was captured in the warehouse; nevertheless there are many species that enter the US this way and some of these probably make it into the wild. The Checkered Water Snake is native to northern and central Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia, and is widely distributed.

Image Credit: Orchi via Wiki Commons

Taxonomy Invasion History Ecology Impacts References

Description

Taxonomy

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Animalia Chordata Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Natrix

Synonyms

Invasion History

Chesapeake Bay Status

First Record Population Range Introduction Residency Source Region Native Region Vectors
1982 Failed Contracting Introduced Regular Resident Europe Eurasia Shipping(unspecified)

History of Spread

Natrix tessellata (Checkered Water Snake) is native to northern and central Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia (Marais 1997). It has only been collected once in North America, in a warehouse at the Norfolk Navy Base, Norfolk VA, where it was most likely introduced with freight from Europe. The single specimen was a juvenile. Reproduction of this snake is unknown in North America (Mitchell 1994).

References- Marais 1997; Mitchell 1994

Invasion Comments

Ecology

Environmental Tolerances

For SurvivalFor Reproduction
Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum
Temperature (ºC)
Salinity (‰) 0.0 0.0
Oxygen
pH
Salinity Range fresh-oligo

Age and Growth

Male Female
Minimum Adult Size (mm)
Typical Adult Size (mm)
Maximum Adult Size (mm)
Maximum Longevity (yrs)
Typical Longevity (yrs

Reproduction

Start Peak End
Reproductive Season
Typical Number of Young
Per Reproductive Event
Sexuality Mode(s)
Mode(s) of Asexual
Reproduction
Fertilization Type(s)
More than One Reproduction
Event per Year
Reproductive Startegy
Egg/Seed Form

Impacts

Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay

Natrix tessellata (Checkered Water Snake) is apparently a failed introduction, and has had no economic impacts in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay

Natrix tessellata (Checkered Water Snake) is apparently a failed introduction, and has had no economic impacts in North America or elsewhere.

Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species

Natrix tessellata (Checkered Water Snake) is apparently a failed introduction, and has had no impacts on native biota in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species

Natrix tessellata (Checkered Water Snake) is apparently a failed introduction, and has had no impacts on exotic biota in the Chesapeake Bay region.

References

Marais, Johan (1997) Snakes., In: (Eds.) . , London. Pp. 62-64

Mitchell, Joseph C. (1994) The Reptiles of Virginia., , Washington, D. C.. Pp.

Direct questions and comments to chesnemo@si.edu.

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