Northern Water Snake

Northern Water Snake

Nerodia sipedon

Size: to 42"

Habitat: in and around water

Notes: Not poisonous, but likely to bite if caught, with sharp, needle-like teeth. These snakes retreat into the water at the slightest disturbance, and are excellent swimmers, although they show no particular adaptations to it like oceanic sea snakes. Common small harmless Garter snakes are also often found around water. Most sport some variation of an attractive pattern of yellow/black stripes.

Northern Water Snake

Morania Abaco reef
Four explosive charges set by a U.S. Navy demolition team rip holes in the hull of the Morania Abaco on the Atlantic City Reef. ( Photo by Ray Fisk )

Old Ships Make New Homes For Fish

Old vessels make excellent artificial reefs. They provide high profile structure for pelagic fish, low profile structure for demersal fish, as well as surface area for the attachment of mussels, barnacles, tubeworms, and other food organisms. Shipwrecks have been the basis for the state's bottom fisheries which feature sea bass, tautog, ling, cod, and pollock. and for recreational scuba diving activities. The New Jersey coast has a large number of shipwrecks, estimates range from 500 to 3,000. These wrecks are the result of 200 years of maritime disasters and enemy submarine operations during World Wars I and II.

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