Harmless · North Carolina
Black Swampsnake
Liodytes pygaea
Small aquatic snake with a glossy dark back and red belly.
At a glance
Size
Usually 10-15 inches.
North Carolina range
Coastal Plain
Habitat
swamps, ponds, wetlands
Diet
Small fish, tadpoles, frogs, salamanders, and aquatic invertebrates.
Pattern
solid
Venomous
No
How to identify it
Small glossy black aquatic snake with a vivid red or orange belly.
Where to look in North Carolina
Restricted to the Coastal Plain.
Shallow vegetated swamps, ponds, marshes, and ditches.
Regional maps show broad physiographic provinces, not county-level records.
Photo guide
Use the gallery to check pattern, body shape, and context—not just overall color.
