Regina alleni                                                        Photo Fiona Sunquist ©

A small, moderately thick, glossy water snake that grows to a maximum length of 26 in (65 cm).  The back is shiny brown with three very faint, darker, longitudinal stripes.  The belly is yellowish to reddish orange and unmarked.

These snakes are highly aquatic, found in ponds, lakes, swamps, and canals, especially in wet areas choked with dense vegetation such as water hyacinth and water lilies. They live in the submerged roots of this vegetation and feed on crayfish, dragonfly larvae and other aquatic invertebrates.

Crayfish snakes are non-venomous.

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