Fl-O species in Florida - including the Garter Snake and King Snake
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Florida Crowned Snake
There are two subspecies of the Florida Crowned Snake in Florida both of which are very small. The average size of an adult Florida Crowned Snake is 7-10 inches (18-24 cm). Adults have a black head but the rest of their bodies are completely tanned.
It is most often encountered in Central Florida or South Eastern Florida (depending on sub-species) in sand hills under rocks or litter. The snake is not venomous and is completely harmless to humans. Crowned Snakes prefers insects, snails, beetles and other small animals.
Florida Green Water Snake
These snakes are thick bodied and their color varies from brownish to green and orange, however green is the normal color for these snakes. Normal adult individuals reach a length of 30-55 inches. The record is a bit more. It cannot be found in the Keys but can be found anywhere else in Florida. It is a water snake and is found in waters of marshes, lakes etc. It's commonly mistaken with the venomous cottonmouth, but the Florida Green Snake is not venomous. It's preferred prey is frogs, salamander, fish and everything else it can get in the water.
Garter snakes
Garter Snake are very common in the US. It's the reptile in North America that is most widely distributed and it can be found at several spots in Florida.
Habitat
The Florida Garter Snake lives in all sorts of habitats, from marshes to woods and in wet areas. Also a lot of people have Garter Snakes as pets.
Appearance
The Garter Snake has longitudinal red, yellow and white stripes on its back. In some species the stripes are not easy to see in other they are.
Size varies from anywhere between 25 inches and 60 inches. The larger specimens are not very common; the average size is about 30-40 inches.
Diet
Garter snakes eat almost anything - other snakes, rodents and all sorts of invertebrates, some other reptiles, frogs and toads - you name it. That's one of the reasons why they are popular as pets.
Hibernation and mating
As soon as Garter Snakes emerge from hibernation they begin to reproduce. It's only in the Northern part of FL that there's a chance they hibernate. When they hibernate they do so in large groups. Males will try to mate with several females during a season and the sexes attract each other with a hormone called pheromone. They give live birth to a lot of hatchlings; sometimes more than 50.
Garter Snakes as pets
Garter snakes are popular pets. One of the reasons for this is that unlike other snakes Garter mates in captivity without ant problems. They do however need a varied diet to survive for many years. Only giving them mice is not a good option as they would never eat mice in the wild. Another advantage of the Garter Snake is that it will mate quite easily in captivity.
Glossy Crayfish Snake
The Glossy Crayfish Snake is found in the Northern part of Florida if found at all. It prefers to stay away from humans and is very seldom seen as it is nocturnal and few in numbers. If found it is seen close to streams or anywhere else close to freshwater sources.
The Glossy Crayfish Snake feed on crayfish it captures in the water - of course. But occasionally it also takes other species on its menu. It's a water snake with shiny brownish scales making it quite beautiful to look at. It reaches a length of 15-30 inches (35-70 cm)
King Snakes - in Florida
King Snakes can be found in a variety of colors and appearances. There are eight different sub-species of the King Snake but only two of them are seen in Florida. The King Snakes of Florida are the Eastern and the Florida King Snake.
The Latin name of King Snakes is Lampropeltis spp. and the names for the sub species found Florida are getula getula and getula floridana.
Florida King Snake
The adult Florida Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula floridana reaches a length of 35 to 50 inches. The longest specimens can reach a length of almost 70 inches.
They have a lot of yellowish cross bands and black ones as well. The Florida King Snake is not venomous and bites only very seldom. It is most active during night and not very often encountered by humans.
It feeds on a lot of different types of animals; rodents and sometimes even other snakes. They do however like lizards and frogs as well and they even feed on their own eggs and kinds from time to time. They are immune to rattlesnake venom and have no problems in eating newborn or small rattlesnakes.
Video and Picture
More videos and pictures can be found in the video section - see the Navigation panel. Here is a sample:
Eastern King Snake
Eastern King Snakes are about the same size as the Florida King Snakes. The longest found specimens of the Eastern King Snake are however a bit longer than their fellow King Snake species in Florida.
Unlike the Florida King Snake the Eastern King Snake is most active during daytime. It is not very often encountered and its number has been declining since the seventies.
It can be found in many habitats but mainly in the most northern parts of the state of Florida.
Life Cycle
Some weeks after their hibernation and in the period from February to May, females lays anything from a few to 30 eggs. Hatchlings are 5-8 inches long and must take care of themselves from when they hatch in late summer.
Diet
Kingsnakes are constrictors feeding on all types of other animals. What makes them really special is their ability to kill and eat other snakes. Because of a natural immunity to venom from venomous snakes such as cottonmouths and rattlesnakes they are able to kill these snakes and eat them.
Midland Watersnake
In Florida the Midland Watersnake is only found in the panhandle. Its uncommon and not very often seen. If seen its most likely flowing in some river. It's a nocturnal hunter feeding on tadpoles, fish, and other water animals. The average size of adult Midland Water Snakes ranges from 25 to 50 inches. Adults are brownish with dark bands near their necks. The Midland Snake gives live birth to up to 30 juveniles. It is a non venomous and completely harmless snake.
Mole Kingsnake
There are two different types of Mole Kingsnakes in Florida. One of them has more than 52 blotches the other one has less than 50. They are not very common, and can only be found in small populations different places in central Florida and in the panhandle. Another reason why they are not seen very often is that they live underground.
Usually they reach a length of up to 30 inches or 75 cm. It is a long and slender snake with relatively big eyes, which is an adaption to living underground.
Mud Snake
Mud Snakes are quite large snakes reaching a length of 40-55 inches at adulthood. They are black with red blotches along their sides.
They are not encountered very often and are considered rare. They can however be found in Northern Florida. They are harmless non venomous and don't even bite when handled. It has a habit of pressing its tail against people who tries to handle it to get free. This has led to a myth about its tail being poisonous, but this is not so. Mud Snakes nest their eggs, which is quite rare among snakes. Hatchlings - ten to twenty in a litter are about 6-7 inches long and bright in their color.
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