re: Harmless water snake vs Cottonmouth ID from distance?

quote:

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Is it true that cottons whole body floats on the surface when it swims, but other water snakes have just their head out?

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Even when cruising on the surface, banded water snakes will swim with their head close to the surface...just kind of flat.

Every cottonmouth I've ever seen kept its head and usually (not always) a couple of inches of "neck" up out of the water.