| Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake | South Florida Rainbow Snake |
| Eastern Mud Snake | Florida Water Moccasin |
| Western Mud Snake | Eastern Water Moccasin |
| Rainbow Snake | Canebrake Rattlesnake |
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake:
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Description |
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Average adult size is 36-72 inches, record is 96 inches. A large, heavy-bodied
snake with a row of large dark diamonds with brown centers and cream borders down its
back. The ground color of the body is brownish. The tail is usually a different shade,
brownish or gray, and toward the end of the tail the diamonds fade out or break into
bands. The tail ends in a rattle. The scales are keeled. The large and thick head has a
light bordered dark stripe running diagonally through the eye and there are vertical light
stripes on the snout. The pupil is vertical and there is a deep facial pit between the
nostril and the eye. The young are similar to the adults in color pattern. The tip of the
tail of new born diamondbacks ends in a ‘button,’ which is the first segment of
the future rattle. Up
Range:
Diamondbacks are found throughout the state of Florida, including several offshore
islands and keys. Outside of Florida, they range north along the coastal plain to
southeastern North Carolina and west to southern Mississippi and eastern Louisiana. Up
Habitat:
Diamondbacks are often found in pine flatwoods, longleaf pine and turkey oak, sand
pine scrub areas, and coastal barrier islands. These habitats contain palmetto thickets
and gopher tortoise burrows in which the diamondback may seek refuge. Humans have invaded
many of Florida’s pine flatwoods and scrub areas which now contain farms, homes and
shopping plazas. As a result, the displaced diamondbacks may be turn up in backyards, golf
courses, and even parking lots. Up
Comments:
This is a large, impressive, and potentially dangerous snake. It can strike up to
2/3 its body length; a 6-foot specimen may strike 4 feet. These factors, as well as
others, make this a snake that should be left alone and not molested. Some people wrongly
believe the diamondback must rattle before striking. This is not true. It can lie silent
and motionless, and then strike without the usual nervous buzz from its rattle. In fact,
diamondbacks that rattle are more apt to be heard, seen and killed, and diamondbacks that
remain silent are more apt to go undiscovered and pass on their genes to the next
generation. In this way, we inadvertently are selecting for rattlers that do not rattle.
This snake is extremely beneficial to man because it preys on rats, mice, rabbits, and
other warm blooded prey, many of which are considered pests. Nevertheless, the general
public in Florida feels so threatened by the diamondback rattlesnake that most are killed
on sight. This indiscriminate killing, combined with the widespread loss of rattlesnake
habitat to agricultural development and urban sprawl and commercial hunting for
rattlesnake skins, has caused a decline in most diamondback rattlesnake populations.
Though not endangered, the species clearly is in trouble. Top
Eastern Mud Snake:
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Description |
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Average adult size is 40 inches, record is 81.5 inches. Adults are large, thick
bodied, and quite beautiful. The body is mostly glossy black (iridescent blue in the
sunlight) with the ends of 53 or more red to pink bars from the belly extending onto its
sides. The belly is a black and red checkerboard pattern. The neck is thick and
indistinct. The tail tip ends in a pointed, horny scale. The scales are mostly smooth, yet
there are some keeled scales above the anal vent. There are 19 dorsal scale rows at
midbody. The iris is red and the pupil is round. Juveniles are similar in appearance to
adults, but the red to pink bars from the belly extend higher onto their sides. In some
localities in northcentral Florida, the checkerboard on the bellies of 20-30% of the
population will be white rather than the usual red. Up
Range:
It is found throughout Florida, except the Florida keys. In the extreme western
panhandle this subspecies intergrades (interbreeds) with the western mud snake. Outside of
Florida, this species ranges from central Alabama and Georgia north along the Atlantic
coastal plain to southern Virginia. Up
Habitat:
It commonly occurs in almost any aquatic habitat including cypress swamps,
drainage ditches, marshes, rivers, and lakes. It is especially fond of waters choked with
aquatic vegetation and muddy bottoms and banks, where it finds its favorite prey, aquatic
salamanders. Up
Comments:
The eastern mud snake is harmless and does not bite even when handled. However, if
you pick it up, it may press its pointed tail tip against your hand in an attempt to get
you to turn it loose. This behavior gave rise to the marvelous myth of the 'hoop snake'
with its poisonous tail. According to the tale, the snake grabs its tail in its mouth and,
like a hoop or a bicycle tire, rolls downhill toward its unlucky victim. At the last
minute, the snake releases its grip on its tail and straightens out like a javelin to hurl
tail first into its victim. It is said that the only way a person can avoid this deadly
skewering is to dodge behind a tree, into which the snake will drive its tail. So venomous
is the tail that the tree promptly dies from the poison. The marvelous piece of cultural
fiction is not well-known in Florida, possibly because Florida has very few hills that a
hoop snake could roll down, but more probably because anyone familiar with the mud snake
recognizes that it is probably the most innocuous large snake in the state.
Eastern mud snakes feed almost exclusively on amphiumas. Their strongly curved teeth help
hold the slippery salamanders. Juveniles may eat other salamanders, frogs, tadpoles, and
fishes. It lays eggs, usually in moist areas such as bankside cavities, where females have
been known to remain coiled around their clutch throughout incubation. They have been
known to have huge clutch sizes, the largest being 104 eggs. Top
Western Mud Snake:
Average adult size is 36-52 inches, record is 74 inches. Adults are large and
thick bodied. The body is glossy black (iridescent blue in the sunlight) with the ends of
52 or fewer red to pink bars from the belly extending onto its sides. The belly is a red
and black checkerboard pattern. The neck is thick and indistinct. The tail tip ends in a
pointed, horny scale. The scales are mostly smooth, yet there are some keeled scales above
the anal vent. There are 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The iris is red and the pupil is
round. Juveniles are similar in appearance to adults, but the red to pink bars from the
belly extend higher onto their sides. Up
Range:
In Florida, this subspecies occurs only as an intergrade form in the extreme
western panhandle. Here, these snakes possess intermediate characters of both eastern and
western mud snakes. Outside of Florida, it occurs westward to eastern Texas and central
Arkansas, northward to extreme southern Illinois and Indiana, and east to western Georgia.
Up
Habitat:
It commonly occurs in almost any aquatic habitat including cypress swamps,
drainage ditches, marshes, rivers, and lakes. It is especially fond of waters choked with
aquatic vegetation and muddy bottoms and banks, where it finds its favorite prey, aquatic
salamanders. Top
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Description |
Average adult size is 40-54 inches, record is 66 inches. Adults are large and
thick bodied. The back is iridescent blue-black with a bright red stripe down the middle
and an additional reddish-pink stripe on each side. The lower sides of the body are yellow
or pink fading into the red belly. Black spots on each belly scale form three lines of
dots down the belly. The chin and throat are yellow. The tail tip ends in a pointed, horny
scale. The scales are mostly smooth, except on the lower back and sides where they are
weekly keeled. There are 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juveniles
are similar in appearance to adults. Up
Range:
In Florida, it occurs throughout the panhandle and northern peninsula, south along
the St. John's River to northern central Florida. Apparently disjunct populations have
been reported from the Tampa Bay region. Outside of Florida, it ranges along the Atlantic
Coastal Plain from eastern Louisiana to southern Maryland. Up
Habitat:
Uncommon to rare, it mainly inhabits clear waters of springs and rivers. It is
also sometimes observed near creeks, lakes, cypress swamps, marshes, and tidal mudflats. Up
Comments:
The rainbow snake is rarely encountered, possibly due to its secretive
subterranean behavior. It is aquatic and a good burrower. It spends much of its life under
floating vegetation and within banks on water's edges. It has been found under shorline
debris including spanish moss and logs. It has been plowed up in fields several hundred
yards from the nearest water. It is sometimes observed crossing roads at night, especially
during or after heavy rains. If captured, it may press its pointed tail tip into one's
hand. The tail is totally harmless and cannot sting or even break the skin. It specializes
in eating eels, earning it the nickname 'eel moccasin.' However, juveniles may feed on
amphibians such as tadpoles, and other fishes. It lays eggs. From 10-52 eggs are deposited
in moist areas. Females have been found coiled around their clutches of eggs. Top
South Florida Rainbow Snake:
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Description |
Record size is 51.5 inches. Adults are large and thick bodied. The back is
iridescent blue-black with a red stripe or line of spots down the middle and an additional
reddish-pink stripe on each side. Black spots and speckles occur on every belly scale and
lower two rows of scales on side of body. These black markings invade and breakup the red
and yellow areas on the belly, throat and chin. The chin is yellow. The tail tip ends in a
pointed, horny scale. The scales are mostly smooth, except on the posterior back and sides
where they are weekly keeled. There are 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is
round. Juveniles are thought to be simlar in appearance to adults. Up
Range:
In Florida, this subspecies is known only from a single population in Fish Eating
Creek, flowing into the west side of Lake Okeechobee, in the southern peninsula. The
subspecies does not occur outside of south Florida. Up
Habitat:
It is very rare or possibly extinct. It has only been found in creeks, but it is
believed it may also inhabit areas similar to other rainbow snakes. Up
Comments:
Virtually nothing is known about this snake, but it is believed its life history
is simlar to that of other rainbow snakes. The South Florida rainbow snake is one of the
rarest snakes in the United States. Only 3 specimens have been found, between 1949 and
1952. Several searches have been made for it since then but all were unsuccessful. Top
Florida Water Moccasin:
or Cottonmouth
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Description |
Average adult size is 20-48 inches, record is 74.5 inches. A dark-colored,
heavy-bodied snake. Juveniles are brightly colored with reddish-brown crossbands on a
brown groundcolor. The dark crossbands contain many dark spots and speckles. The pattern
darkens with age so adults retain only a hint of the former banding or are a uniform
black. The scales are keeled. The eye is camouflaged by a broad, dark, facial stripe. The
tip of the snout has two vertical dark lines. The head is thick and distinctly broader
than the neck, and when viewed from above, the eyes cannot be seen. The top of head in
front of the eyes is covered with large plate-like scales. The pupil is vertical
(catlike). There is a deep facial pit between the nostril and the eye. Up
Range:
Found throughout Florida. The species extends north to Virginia and west to
Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Up
Habitat:
Any wetlands or waterway in the state. Cottonmouths can be found along streams,
springs, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps, sloughs, reservoirs, retention pools,
canals, and roadside ditches. It occasionally wanders far from water, and has been found
in bushes and trees. Up
Comments:
Cottonmouth bites can be quite dangerous. The victim should seek immediate medical
care from a physician or hospital experienced in treating snakebite. When threatened, the
cottonmouth may respond by coiling its body and opening its mouth as though ready to bite.
The exposed white interior of the mouth is what gave rise to the common name,
‘cottonmouth.’ If not hard pressed, the cottonmouth usually will retreat. This
open mouth threat display has led to the widespread belief that cottonmouths are
aggressive snakes. In fact, as a rule they are one of the more sedate, even placid,
poisonous snakes. Some people believe cottonmouths lie in wait on tree limbs overhanging
water so they can drop into boats. These are usually cases of mistaken identity. The
harmless brown watersnake often basks on tree limbs over the water, and when frightened by
a rapidly approaching boat, they will escape by throwing themselves off the limb and into
the water. Occasionally the watersnake's attempt to flee comes too late and it falls not
into the water, but into the boat. Cottonmouths feed on fish, frogs, mice, rats, and other
small mammals. Juvenile cottonmouths have a bright, sulfur-colored tail which they hold
erect and wiggle like a caterpillar to attract prey within striking range. Top
Eastern Water Moccasin or Cottonmouth:
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Description |
Average adult size is 20-48 inches, record is 74.5 inches. A dark-colored,
heavy-bodied snake. Juveniles are brightly colored with reddish-brown crossbands on a
brown groundcolor. The dark crossbands contain many dark spots and speckles. The pattern
darkens with age so adults retain only a hint of the former banding or are a uniform
black. The scales are keeled. The broad, dark, facial stripe is not well-defined in large
adults. The snout tip lacks vertical dark markings. The head is thick and distinctly
broader than the neck, and when viewed from above, the eyes cannot be seen. The top of
head in front of the eyes is covered with large plate-like scales. The pupil is vertical
(catlike). There is a deep facial pit between the nostril and the eye. Up
Range:
Found the extreme western panhandle of Florida. Outside of Florida it is found to
the north and east through Alabama to central Georgia and Virginia. Up
Habitat:
Cottonmouths can be found along streams, springs, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes,
swamps, sloughs, reservoirs, retention pools, canals, and roadside ditches. It
occasionally is found far from water. Up
Comments:
Cottonmouth bites can be quite dangerous. The victim should seek immediate medical
care from a physician or hospital experienced in treating snakebite. When threatened, the
cottonmouth may respond by coiling its body and opening its mouth as though ready to bite.
The exposed white interior of the mouth is what gave rise to the common
name,‘cottonmouth.’ Given the chance, the cottonmouth usually will retreat. This
open mouth threat display has led to the widespread belief that cottonmouths are
aggressive snakes. Some people believe cottonmouths lie in wait on tree limbs overhanging
water so they can drop into boats. These are usually cases of mistaken identity. The
harmless brown watersnake often basks on tree limbs over the water, and when frightened by
a rapidly approaching boat, they will escape by throwing themselves off the limb and into
the water. Occasionally the watersnake's attempt to flee comes too late and it falls not
into the water, but into the boat. Cottonmouths feed on fish, frogs, mice, rats, and other
small mammals. Juvenile cottonmouths have a bright, sulfur-colored tail which they hold
erect and wiggle like a caterpillar to attract prey within striking range. Top
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The canebrake rattlesnake is a medium to large rattlesnake that ranges throughout the
state but is common only in certain areas. It averages 3-5 feet but 6 foot specimens are
not uncommon. The ground color varies from light to dark grey and the vertebral stripe
varies in intensity from light to dark orange or rust brown. Although canebrake
rattlesnakes have a mild disposition and many will not rattle when caught, they have a
very toxic venom and can inflict a serious bite. It is not uncommon to get to within a few
feet of these snakes without even seeing them. This further adds to their ability to lay
out in the open, yet remain hidden. Top
