the Snake identification Project

The Peninsula Ribbonsnake (𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘪) is found in most of Florida, southern Georgia, and extreme southern South Carolina.

Tan or brown, pattern often obscure; narrow light lateral stripes, middorsal stripe less distinct, occasionally absent. Lower FL Keys specimens have a distinct yellow or orange middorsal stripe bordered by narrow black stripes.

The overall slender appearance, unmarked lip scales, and white marking in front of the eye can help us distinguish this species from the common gartersnake.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘪 (KENNICOTT 1859)

The angle of the postocular stripe is one of several characteristics used to separate the Mohave (𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴) and Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘹)

1. Cardwell MD, Massey DJ, Smelski G, Wüster W. Mohave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) Identification Revisited. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 2022;33(2):210-218. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2022.01.003

𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘊𝘊-𝘉𝘠-𝘕𝘊-𝘕𝘋

If only the dark head is visible, an Eastern Coachwhip (𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧. 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮) can still be narrowed down by shape and proportion rather than pattern. The head is long, narrow, and smoothly tapered, without a distinct “neck pinch” behind it. The eyes are large, and the snout looks extended and aerodynamic rather than blunt. There is a ridge over the eyes (supraocular scale) and some light coloration on the edges of the head scales.

The dark head is typically uniform black or very dark brown, lacking bands, mottling, or a facial mask.

A southern black racer would have a slightly shorter snout and a solid black head with white on the chin and throat.

Even in shadow, the overall look is sleek and alert, not heavy or blocky.

Behavior helps when markings do not. A coachwhip with just its head exposed often holds it elevated, actively watching movement rather than staying motionless. While this view alone can make ID tricky, that combination of elongated head, big eyes, smooth profile, and attentive posture strongly points to a coachwhip and helps rule out bulkier species or anything venomous such as a cottonmouth or rattlesnake.

𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 © 𝘓𝘞 𝘙𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴/𝘣𝘺-𝘯𝘤/4.0

The Blue-striped Gartersnake (𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴) has a dark gray or black head, a brownish body, a narrow tan vertebral stripe, and bluish white lateral stripes. Otherwise, this subspecies is very similar to the eastern gartersnake.

𝘛. 𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 is restricted to the Gulf Coast of Florida from Pinellas County north to Wakulla County.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘴 ROSSMAN 1965

𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 © 𝘑.𝘋. 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴/𝘣𝘺-𝘯𝘤/4.0

Eastern Gartersnakes in Florida are often an attractive greenish-blue with dark checker markings, light middorsal stripe, and the typical dark labial (lip scale) markings.

Scales are keeled. Belly can be grayish, tan, or greenish-blue, sometimes with black barring.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴. 𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 (LINNAEUS 1758)

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴/𝘣𝘺-𝘯𝘤/4.0

The ground color is light brown, and three black, purplish gray, dull bluish gray, or dark brown longitudinal stripes are present on the body. The middorsal stripe is broad.

The head is black or brown with a pinkish to cream or white stripe extending from the snout through to the rear of the head.

The belly is red to orange, the chin light brown. Body scales are smooth and pitless.

The Black-striped Snake is found from extreme southern Texas through Vera Cruz, Mexico.

𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 (BAIRD & GIRARD, 1859)

𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 © 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘬
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴/𝘣𝘺-𝘯𝘤/4.0

This Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (𝘏𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴) is “hooding”, which is a defensive display used by many snakes around the world.

Defensive behavior can help us in the identification process. In this case, no other native U.S. snake species can hood up quite like the eastern hognose, making this particular ID easy.

Other ID features include the upturned shovel-like nose (rostral) scale and keeled body scales.

𝘏𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴 LATREILLE, 1801

𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 © 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘳
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴/𝘣𝘺-𝘯𝘤/4.0

These two Eastern Copperheads (𝘈𝘨𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘹) from southeastern Texas are showing the typical appearance for the region. Some of the widely spaced bands don’t connect perfectly across the back, which is normal for this species.

The large scale over the eyes (supraocular), small twin spots in the center of the head (parietal spots), and light tan/brown color scheme also help us recognize the species.

𝘈𝘨𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘹 (LINNAEUS, 1766)

𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 © 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴/𝘣𝘺-𝘯𝘤/4.0

The colorful San Francisco Gartersnake (𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘢) is unmistakable.

A wide blue-green or greenish yellow dorsal stripe is bordered with black stripes; Below the black stripe is a continuous red stripe, bordered below by another black stripe; Below that is a bluish or greenish yellow lateral stripe; There may also be a thin line of black below the lateral stripe on the edge of the belly; The underside is bluish-green.

Occasionally there are black markings in the red stripes.

This subspecies is endemic to California, found only on the San Francisco peninsula from near the southern San Francisco County line south to Rancho del Oso State Park in Santa Cruz County.

𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮

𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 © 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴/𝘣𝘺-𝘯𝘤/4.0

The markings down the back of the harmless Prairie Kingsnake (𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳) are often referred to as “Peanut Shaped”, though the shape can vary.

Smooth glossy scales, round head, brown on tan color scheme, and the location of Texas can help us recognize the snake in the photo as 𝘓. 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.

𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 (HARLAN, 1827)

𝘖𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 © 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨 𝘔𝘤𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘺𝘳𝘦
𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴.𝘰𝘳𝘨/𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴/𝘣𝘺-𝘯𝘤/4.0

The harmless Eastern Milksnake (𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘮) is variable across its range in the eastern and midwestern U.S.

This milksnake from Missouri is typical for that region; Gray ground color with red saddle markings that are outlined in black; Saddles do not touch belly; Head is rounded with a blunt snout; Labial scales are striped.

These snakes were formerly classified as a subspecies, the Red Milksnake (𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘢).

𝘓𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘮 (LACÉPÈDE, 1789)

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴

Another example of natural variation in the harmless Florida Watersnake (𝘕𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴).

This individual from central Florida is almost solid black except for some white scales forming faint crossbands. The head is flattened defensively, helping us see the dark postocular stripe on an orange background,characteristic of the species.

This snake can be easily mistaken for a venomous cottonmouth. As always, it is best to not handle any snake you cannot identify with confidence.

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘒𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘝𝘢𝘯