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Southern Banded Water Snake

Nerodia fasciata

Photo by Ric3
Published on Project Noah
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28.148, -82.7773

Field Notes

Description:

It is typically gray, greenish-gray, or brown in color, with dark crossbanding. Many specimens are so dark in color that their patterning is barely discernible. They have flat heads, and are fairly heavy-bodied.

Habitat:

It inhabits most freshwater environments such as lakes, marshes, ponds, and streams. This specimen was observed swimming away from a bridge at a County's nature Preserve when a group of people on a botany hike started to cross the bridge. The area was a wetlands of cypress, redbay, and other mixed trees.

Species ID Suggestions

Florida Banded Watersnake

Nerodia fasciata pictiventris
JeffreyDuby
1

Comments (8)
JeffreyDuby
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/Nerodiafpictiventris.htm
JeffreyDuby
I would be dead by now if I didn't know the difference. Its all in experience and being out in the field with the species. 100% a Florida Banded
Ric3
Can you determine which species from the photo? Fasciata or Pictiventris? Supposedly if one cannot you supposedly go by geography. I am in Pinellas County (north end). I am going w/ Fasciata?
NeilDazet
This is a good time to read our blog post related to this issue: http://blog.projectnoah.org/post/31728621331/venomous-or-nonvenomous Remember that triangular head shapes, banding patterns, etc... are not clear indicators of a specific aquatic snake species.
JeffreyDuby
Banding is a lot different the bands are smaller and become narrow. Cottonmouths bands are broad. Also the orange color as well in the striping and on the head. Another thing is the size of the body a skinny cottonmouth the spine is real defined and the head would look huge.
Ric3
Jeff give me your diagnostics on this snake please. It was swimming away from me at the time. It was leaving an area along the bank where Cottonmouths "hangout" all the time. To me the head is triangular. Your background looks like you have a good deal experience w/ these critters. The banding, as I know could go either way. Thanks.
JeffreyDuby
this isn't a cottonmouth its a harmless Florida Banded Water Snake
Kevin Scheiber
Thank you for sharing your spotting in the mission "Biodiversity of Florida", excellent capture!!!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Wildlife of the South East, USA
Mission
Florida Wetlands
Mission
Go.. Go.. Native - Florida
Mission
Biodiversity of Florida
Photographed
PublishedApril 4, 2013

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