Red-bellied Mudsnake (Farancia abacura)

Created: July 10th, 2017 - 04:10 PM
Last Modified: July 10th, 2017 - 04:10 PM Entered by: Eric Rosenthal
Record 282639

Country: United States		State: Tennessee	County: Shelby County	Time: 2017-07-10 15:00:00
Qty: 1	Age: Juvenile	Sex: --	Method: Visual encounter	Habitat: small swamp adjacent to the Loosahatchie River
Body Temperature: -----		Air Temperature: 80.00F	Ground Temperature: -----	Humidity: -----
Sky Conditions: Clear		Moon Phase: -----	Elevation: -----	Barometric Pressure: -----

Notes

I can't stress how unfortunate it was that this snake was found dead but it serves as a great sign to see where these guys actually live. Ive been searching in Shelby County for a Mud Snake for years and still have not found even a sign of one until now. The location was right on the edge of a small swamp that borders the Loosahatchie River. At least i know where to focus my search now so i can finally find one of these guys alive.

Vouchers

Comments

Posted by Jeff Holt on Sep 29, 2017 at 04:06 PM

I know a swamp on the Loosahatchie that is about 99% certain to have mud snakes. It is full of crayfish, which amphiumas eat, which are in turn eaten by mud snakes. I have seen two amphiumas there. One was found dead, and looked like it had just been regurgitated - I believe I interrupted a mud snake and it expelled the amphiuma and moved off before I saw it. Someone else I know is about 97.2% sure he saw a mud snake there.

Posted by Lawrence Erickson on Jul 11, 2017 at 08:05 AM

Great record. Apparently Mud Snakes are hard to find.