Florida Water Snake

Here is a quick look at most of florida s snakes by pattern.

Florida water snake. Can be found in nearly all freshwater habitats preferring the shallow waters of swamps marshes ponds lakes streams and rivers. Fasciata chiefly in the shape of the markings on the ventrals. F pictiventris these markings consist of transverse blotches many of them enclosing an oval white spot whereas in n. Before entering the water in areas like this it is smart to look and see if the cottonmouth is known to live there.

Florida snake identification key southern water snake. But where you re likely to find them you can normally find cottonmouths. It s mating season for the florida water snakes according to the city of lakeland. Harmless watersnake or venomous water moccasin.

Some are single uniform colors. There are many harmless watersnakes genus nerodia that are frequently confused with venomous water moccasins a k a. Cottonmouths agkistrodon piscivorus sadly harmless snakes are often killed out of fear for the safety of family and pets. Because florida has a large number of swamps and marshland these snakes can be found in great abundance meaning that you could be at risk each time you go in the water.

Banded water snakes inhabit nearly all freshwater habitats throughout florida except the keys. Banded water snake vs. Others have dark or light markings organized into stripes spots blotches or some other pattern. In south florida you re likely to find coral snakes eastern diamondbacks and pygmy rattlesnakes.

Cottonmouth the trouble with brown snakes is they all look very similar. 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. Florida green water snakes are found throughout florida except the keys and typically inhabit calm waters of lakes prairies marshes ponds estuaries and slow flowing canals. The cottonmouth is a common and venomous florida snake also called a water moccasin.

Brown water snakes are good climbers and often bask on tree limbs. The florida water snake differs from the southern water snake n. This snake is often mistaken for the venomous water moccasin eastern cottonmouth back to venomous. Live or dead fish frogs and aquatic invertebrates.

Fasciata they are solid squarish spots. Water moccasins aren t the only aquatic snake in florida.