Florida Water Snake Juvenile

The cottonmouth has a sharply angled head as most pit vipers do with a pit between its eyes and nostrils.

Florida water snake juvenile. F pictiventris these markings consist of transverse blotches many of them enclosing an oval white spot whereas in n. Feeds on live or dead fishes frogs and aquatic invertebrates. Nerodia fasciata linnaeus 1766 the following will separate the two southern water snakes found in florida if you are unable to distinguish between them based on the characteristics in the key below you probably can do so using the geographic location alone. Gray rat snake elaphe obsoleta alabama.

That is a defense mechanism for them. Rat snake the common predator on wood duck eggs resting on a tree branch in green forest. This venomous juvenile water moccasin also has a wide blocky head and a very obvious neck that is narrower than the head. The broader range of two of these venomous species just barely extends into north florida.

Only one non native species the tiny brahminy blindsnake is found in north florida. Of florida s 46 native species of snakes 45 occur in the north florida region shown in pale green on this map including all six of the venomous species. There are several harmless florida water snakes that look a bit like cottonmouths in both head shape and coloration. Fasciata chiefly in the shape of the markings on the ventrals.

Coral snakes micrurus fulvius are venomous snakes with black yellow and red coloring. When threatened the florida water snake defends itself by biting and smearing its tormentor with a foul smelling musk. This photo was sent to us by an extension client who needlessly killed the snake and asked that we confirm that it was a venomous species. The cottonmouth or water moccasin is a dark colored heavy bodied snake that can grow to an average of 2 4 feet in length.

Juvenile cottonmouths are a brown or tan color with darker reddish brown crossbands containing many speckles down the back. Juveniles also have bright yellow tail tips. Fasciata they are solid squarish spots. Juvenile pygmy rattlesnakes have beautiful coloration.

Cottonmouth compared to a non venomous water snake. If you spot a snake in the water one thing to take note of is how much of the body is visible. Common water snakes are the most frequent misidentification as they are found in the water and have similar coloring. The florida water snake differs from the southern water snake n.

Active mainly at night but may be found during the day sunning on banks or on vegetation hanging over the water. American rat snake pantherophis obsoleta hatching from its egg. Florida snake identification key southern water snake. The florida water snake bears live young.