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SOUTHERN RINGNECK SNAKE (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) Jim Merli Florida’s Nonvenomous Snakes By Craig N. Huegel and David G. Cook Depending on your point of view, widespread, the snakes you encounter While having no legs is an obvious, Florida is either blessed or cursed are most likely to be nonvenomous. common characteristic, snake species with a rich diversity of snakes. Our This article introduces some of the differ in many ways, such as food and 44 species of snakes are found in most commonly seen nonvenomous habitat preferences, behavior when every conceivable habitat, from Florida snakes. confronted and reproductive habits. coastal mangroves and salt marshes What are snakes, anyway? Far from About half of Florida’s snakes give to freshwater wetlands and dry being slimy and wormlike, snakes are birth to live young while the others uplands, and many species thrive in reptiles and, like lizards, turtles and lay eggs. The number of young or residential areas. Therefore, you can crocodilians, are covered with hard, eggs differs greatly among species, expect to encounter snakes dry scales. They are bony, too, and but most newly born or hatched occasionally wherever you live or the secret to their slithering ability snakes appear by late summer. travel in Florida. lies in the complex coordination of There are just a few species that are Many people have negative ribs, muscles and broad belly scales commonly seen in developed areas, attitudes toward snakes because of that propel them fluidly in search of although any snake may occasionally superstitions or folklore that have no food or shelter. Snakes are strictly be found in urban settings. By basis in fact. In reality, snakes cause carnivores; they must find, subdue recognizing common nonvenomous few problems, and many are and eat other animals to survive. The snakes and understanding something beneficial in reducing populations of ways they accomplish this without of their habits, you can take a more rodents and other pests. Since just six the benefit of arms and legs are awe- relaxed attitude toward them and of Florida’s snake species are inspiring. appreciate them as an integral part of venomous, and only four of these are Florida’s wildlife. Racer and Coachwhip one reason why they are frequently Actually, the copperhead is rare in noticed. The eyes, with their rich, Florida and found only in the heavily One of Florida’s most familiar chestnut-brown irises, are large in timbered counties flanking the snakes is the “blacksnake” or, more relation to its head, betraying the Apalachicola River. properly, the southern black racer. racer’s keen vision. The red rat snake varies in color but Aptly named for its coloration and Part of the racer’s success is due to usually is some shade of yellowish- speed, the black racer is common in a its wide diet; they have been referred tan to orange, with a row of large, wide variety of habitats, most to as “slithering garbage pails.” dark-edged red or rusty blotches frequently in brush- or shrub-covered Racers capture a tremendous variety down the center of the back. The areas near water. of animals, including other snakes, black-and-white belly resembles a The adult racer is a slender, satiny lizards, frogs, birds, rodents and piano keyboard. snake, plain black or slate gray with a insects. While hunting in open areas, The other species of rat snake has white or gray chin and throat. the racer often raises its head high several names to match its Maximum length is about 70 inches, above the ground, cobra-style, to appearance, which varies in different but most are 36–60 inches long. survey its surroundings better. parts of the state. Young of this Persons otherwise familiar with Many of these characteristics are species are gray with irregular darker snakes are often “stumped” by young shared with the racer’s larger cousin, gray blotches on the back. In the black racers, which are colored very the eastern coachwhip. This snake panhandle, the adults retain this color differently from the adults. For a year can be over 8 feet long and frequents pattern and are known as the gray rat after hatching, racers are slate gray dry, open habitats including pine or “white oak” snake. Throughout with regular rusty brown blotches flatwoods, sandhill and scrub. It’s an most of the peninsula, however, the running down the back. Black racers active hunter and quick to bite in self- adults are orangish with four narrow, shouldn’t be mistaken for the defense. Typically, its head and front brown stripes running the length of threatened eastern indigo snakes, quarter of the body are black to dark the body. These are commonly called which also are large, shiny and black. brown, which fades to light tan on the yellow rat or “chicken” snakes. Indigos are much heavier, often have remainder of the body and tail. The red rat snake may grow to a a rusty or red chin and throat, and are length of 72 inches, but averages much more local in distribution. Rat Snakes 30–48 inches. The gray and yellow Black racers are nervous, irritable rat snakes may reach a body length of and fast-moving. When given a There are only two species of rat 84 inches, but those most commonly chance to escape, they generally do snake native to Florida, but they are seen are 42–72 inches. Both species so very quickly. However, racers, so variable in color and pattern you’d are found throughout Florida in especially juveniles, will not hesitate think there were many more. The red almost every habitat, but are shy and to bite when cornered. They also rat or “corn” snake is the only large, secretive, spending most of their time vibrate their tails when they feel red-orange snake likely to be in trees, under brush and mulch piles, threatened, causing some people to encountered in developed areas of or inside old buildings and other mistake them for rattlesnakes. Florida. Because of its color, this structures. Rat snakes are the best Unlike many snakes, the black racer snake is frequently mistaken for the climbers of Florida’s snakes, thanks hunts actively during daylight hours, dissimilar, venomous copperhead. to powerful constricting muscles and Jim Merli Jim Merli Dale Jackson RED RAT or CORN SNAKE (Elaphe guttata) GRAY RAT SNAKE (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides) YELLOW RAT SNAKE (Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata) Jim Merli Although the scarlet kingsnake (l) (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) and northern scarlet snake (r) (Cemophora coccinea copei) resemble the venomous coral snake, they are harmless. In contrast, the coral snake has a Jim Merli black snout, not red. Its red bands are bordered by yellow, not black. specially edged belly scales that they The kingsnake is an egg-laying most dramatic in the southern press into tiny irregularities in order constrictor, feeding primarily on hognose, is specially designed for to climb vertically up tree trunks and rodents, birds and reptiles. Its digging out toads, their major prey. other surfaces. reputation as the “king of snakes” Many types of nonvenomous snakes Young rat snakes feed mostly on probably stems from its fondness for are killed by Floridians each year out lizards and frogs, but adults graduate eating other snakes, including of fear or ignorance, but hognoses, to rodents and birds, which they kill rattlesnakes and other pit vipers, because of their defensive antics, are by constriction. They are quite useful whose venom does not harm the more likely to be targeted. When in controlling rats and mice. In late kingsnake. Persons not keen about alarmed, hognose snakes will hiss, spring to early summer, females lay having many snakes on their property puff and jerk about, raise their head, up to 30 eggs, which hatch in mid- to should be careful to safeguard their and flatten their neck into a late summer. Rat snakes tame easily, local kingsnakes! convincing, cobra-like hood. They but will defend themselves may even strike but don’t open their aggressively when cornered. When Hognose Snakes mouth. If this doesn’t frighten away threatened, they may also vibrate their attacker, they then thrash about, their tails rapidly. The eastern and southern hognose spew out a foul-smelling musk, roll snakes are two of Florida’s least over, and play dead, often with the Kingsnake offensive, yet most maligned mouth open and tongue dragging on nonvenomous snakes, due to their the ground. Despite the hognose’s The kingsnake is a large, powerful appearance and exaggerated dramatic display to ward off attack, snake found throughout mainland defensive stunts. Hognose snakes are the strategy backfires with people Florida in a variety of habitats, often found in upland habitats and prefer and the harmless snakes are often near water. Although normally dry, sandy woods and fields. The killed. between 36 and 48 inches, it is eastern hognose is found throughout In contrast, the smaller but similarly known to reach 82 inches in length. mainland Florida while the southern patterned pigmy rattlesnake will coil, The kingsnake color pattern varies hognose occurs only in the northern strike and bite savagely if molested. almost as dramatically as that of the half. Pigmy rattlers do not have the sharply rat snakes. In north Florida, most are Both hognose snakes are rather upturned nose of the hognose snakes the eastern kingsnake variety, which stout-bodied and have alternating and possess a tiny rattle that makes a is shiny black with narrow crossbands brown and tan or yellow blotches, barely audible buzzing sound. of white or light yellow. Most central although some eastern hognoses are and south Florida specimens are the solid black above, with no sign of Garter and Ribbon Snakes Florida kingsnake variety, with many pattern.

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