List of snakes of Florida Facts for Kids

Florida is a warm, sunny state in the United States, and it's home to many different kinds of snakes! Some snakes are harmless and help keep the environment healthy, while others are venomous and can be dangerous if you get too close. It's important to learn about these amazing creatures so you can appreciate them and know how to stay safe. This list will tell you about some of the snakes you might find slithering around Florida.

A Florida cottonmouth.

Non-Venomous Snakes

Most snakes in Florida are not venomous, meaning they don't have poison that can hurt humans. These snakes are very important for the environment because they help control pests like mice and rats. They are often shy and will try to avoid people.

An American alligator and a Burmese python in Everglades National Park.

Black Racers

Black Racers are fast, slender snakes that are usually black. They are very active during the day and can often be seen zipping across roads or through yards. They eat small animals like frogs, lizards, and rodents.

Southern Black Racer

Coachwhips

Coachwhips are long, thin snakes known for their speed. They get their name because their body looks a bit like a braided whip. They are excellent hunters and eat lizards, birds, and even other snakes.

Eastern Coachwhip

Red Belly Snakes

These small, shy snakes are often found hiding under rocks or logs. They are usually brown or gray on top and have a bright red or orange belly. They mostly eat slugs and earthworms.

Florida Brown Snake
Florida Redbelly Snake

Crayfish Snakes

Crayfish snakes love to live near water, like swamps and marshes. As their name suggests, they mainly eat crayfish! They are good swimmers and spend a lot of time searching for food in the water.

Glossy Crayfish Snake
Striped Crayfish Snake

Crowned Snakes

Crowned snakes are small and slender, usually with a dark head that looks like a "crown" against their lighter body. They are secretive and spend most of their time underground or under leaf litter, hunting for small invertebrates.

Southeastern Crown Snake

Garter Snakes

Garter snakes are common and can be found in many different habitats, from forests to suburban gardens. They often have stripes running down their bodies. They eat a variety of small prey, including worms, frogs, and fish.

Eastern Garter Snake
Southern Ribbon Snake
Bluestripe Garter Snake

Green Snakes

Green snakes are bright green, which helps them blend in perfectly with the leaves and branches where they live. They are very thin and mostly eat insects like crickets and grasshoppers.

Rough Green Snake

Hognose Snakes

Hognose snakes have a unique, upturned snout that they use to dig in the dirt. When threatened, they often put on a dramatic show, hissing loudly and even playing dead! They are not venomous and mostly eat toads.

Eastern Hognose Snake
Southern Hognose Snake

Indigo Snakes

The Eastern Indigo Snake is one of the longest snakes in North America and is a beautiful shiny black. It is a protected species in Florida. These snakes are not venomous and eat a wide range of animals, including other snakes (even venomous ones!).

Eastern Indigo Snake

Kingsnakes

Kingsnakes are known for their beautiful patterns and for eating other snakes, including venomous ones, as they are immune to their venom. They are constrictors, meaning they squeeze their prey.

Florida Kingsnake
Mole Kingsnake
Scarlet Kingsnake
Short-tailed Snake

Rainbow Snakes

Rainbow snakes are stunning, with iridescent scales that shimmer in the light, giving them a "rainbow" effect. They live near water and are excellent swimmers, feeding mostly on eels.

Eastern Mud Snake
Rainbow Snake

Pine Snakes

Pine snakes are large, powerful constrictors that live in pine forests. They are known for their loud hiss when disturbed. They mostly eat rodents, birds, and their eggs.

Black Pine Snake
Florida Pine Snake

Pine Woods Snake

This small, secretive snake is found in pine forests, often hiding under bark or logs. It's not very common to see them because of their hidden lifestyle.

Pine Woods Snake

Rat Snakes

Rat snakes are common throughout Florida and are excellent climbers. They are very helpful to humans because they eat a lot of rodents, which helps control pest populations.

Gray Rat Snake
Red Rat Snake (Corn Snake)
Eastern Rat Snake (Yellow Rat Snake)

Ring-necked Snakes

These small, slender snakes are easily recognized by the bright yellow or orange ring around their neck. They are usually dark gray or black on top and have a bright belly. They are secretive and eat small invertebrates.

Southern Ring-necked Snake

Scarlet Snakes

Scarlet snakes are beautiful, with bright red, black, and yellow bands that can sometimes make them look like venomous coral snakes. However, they are harmless and eat reptile eggs and small lizards.

Scarlet Snake

Water Snakes

Water snakes are common near ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are good swimmers and often bask in the sun on branches overhanging the water. They mainly eat fish and amphibians.

Brown Watersnake
Florida Banded Watersnake
Red-Bellied Watersnake
Florida Green Water Snake
Salt Marsh Snake
Mangrove Salt Marsh Snake
Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake

Venomous Snakes

Florida is also home to several types of venomous snakes. These snakes have special fangs that deliver venom (poison) when they bite. It's very important to know how to identify these snakes and to keep a safe distance from them. If you see a venomous snake, do not approach it.

Pit Vipers

Pit vipers get their name from the heat-sensing "pits" on their faces, which help them find warm-blooded prey in the dark. They have triangular heads and thick bodies.

Florida Cottonmouth: Also known as a water moccasin, this snake is found near water. It may open its mouth to show a white, cotton-like lining as a warning.
Southern Copperhead: These snakes have distinctive hourglass-shaped patterns on their bodies. They are usually found in wooded areas.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: This is the largest venomous snake in North America. It has diamond-shaped patterns and a rattle on its tail that it shakes to warn off threats.
Timber Rattlesnake (Canebrake Rattlesnake): Another large rattlesnake, often found in forests. It also has a rattle and can be quite long.
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake: This is a small rattlesnake with a tiny rattle that sounds like a buzzing insect. It's often found in pine forests.

Elapid

Elapids are a group of venomous snakes that include cobras and mambas. In Florida, the only native elapid is the coral snake.

Eastern Coral Snake: These snakes have bright red, yellow, and black bands. They are often confused with harmless scarlet snakes. Remember the rhyme: "Red touch yellow, kill a fellow; red touch black, venom lack" to tell them apart. Coral snakes are shy and rarely bite unless provoked.

List of snakes of Florida facts for kids

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