Harmless · North Carolina
Rainbow Snake
Farancia erytrogramma
Glossy aquatic snake with red striping; rarely encountered.
At a glance
Size
Usually 36-54 inches.
North Carolina range
Coastal Plain
Habitat
blackwater streams, swamps, wetlands
Diet
Primarily eels; occasionally other aquatic prey.
Pattern
lengthwise stripes
Venomous
No
How to identify it
Large, glossy, dark aquatic snake with three red lengthwise stripes and yellow markings along the sides.
Where to look in North Carolina
Rare and restricted to the Coastal Plain.
Blackwater streams, swamps, and cypress wetlands.
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.
