 The specific name or epithet, "harteri", is in honor of American amateur herpetologist Philip Harter, who collected the first specimen in Palo Pinto County in 1936.The Brazos water snake grows to a total length (including tail) of 16 to 32 inches (41–81 cm), and ranges in color from brown to olive green.It has two rows of spots that go down either side of its back, and has a pink or orange underside with dark spots down either side.