Snake Identification Lab Assignment

Name: Ana Paula Silva Santos

There are 5 picture specimens that you must use to identify each snake. You must use
the Florida Museum of Natural History site to identify. For each specimen you are
required to list the key steps in identification, give the common and scientific name (use
proper binomial nomenclature) and 3 additional comments on each snake’s natural
history. (Natural history is a description of the organism’s habitat, feeding behaviors,
reproduction, etc).
Specimen #1 - Ring-necked Snake
Characteristics:
Length: ranges from 8-14 inches (21-36cm) in length.
Colors/Skin/Length: - Adults are small and slender with a black or slate gray body and a
yellow, cream, or orange ring across the neck. Note that the neck ring may be incomplete,
and that some may lack a ring entirely.
- The belly is bright yellow, orange, or red with a single row of black half-moon
markings down the center. The underside of the tail is typically bright red in the
peninsula or yellow in the Panhandle.
- The scales are smooth, and there are 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is
round. Juvenile coloration is similar to that described for adults.
Common name: Ring-necked Snake
Scientific name: Diadophis punctatus
1. Ring-necked snakes are commonly found in meadows, prairies, pinelands,
hardwood hammocks, and melaleuca stands. In the Florida Keys, they occur
mainly in pinelands, tropical hardwood hammocks, and around limestone
outcroppings. Adults and juveniles of this species are often found in suburban
neighborhoods where development encroaches into favorable habitats.

2. Ring-necked snakes are nocturnal (active at night) predators and feed

primarily on small lizards, snakes, salamanders, frogs, toads, earthworms,
slugs, and insects. These snakes are not constrictors. Larger prey are slowly
immobilized using a mildly toxic venom that is delivered by two slightly
elongated teeth at the rear of the mouth. However, smaller prey are often
quickly swallowed alive.
3. In Florida, females lay around 2-7 eggs in moist areas such as underneath or
inside rotting logs. They typically hatch in late summer or early fall.
 Specimen #2 - Southern Hognose Snake
Characteristics:
Length: ranges from 18-22 inches (45-55cm) in total length, however, has a record
length of 24 inches (61cm).
Skin/Colors: - These are small, stout-bodied snakes with sharply upturned snouts. Adults
can be light gray, tan, yellowish brown, or orangish-red, with large dark blotches down the
middle of the back that alternate with smaller dark blotches on the sides. There is often reddish-
orange coloration between the large blotches on the back. The underside of the tail and the belly
are the same light color of sandy gray. The underside of the tail and the belly are the same light
color of sandy gray. There is a dark line extending from the upper jaw through the eye.
- The scales are keeled (each scale has a prominent raised ridge), and there are typically
about 25 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juvenile coloration is similar
to that described for adults but more vivid.
Common name: Southern Hognose Snake
Scientific name: Heterodon simus
1. Southern hog-nosed snakes occur in sandhills, scrub, high pine and turkey oak
woodlands, hardwood hammocks, dry river floodplains, and areas near
temporary wetlands. Adults and juveniles of this species can be found in
suburban neighborhoods where development encroaches into favorable
habitats.

2. Southern hog-nosed snakes feed primarily on frogs and toads, which they
often excavate from the ground using their upturned snout like a spade.
However, they will also eat small lizards and small mammals. Southern hog-
nosed snakes are not constrictors but rather subdue their prey using a mild
venom.

3. In Florida, females typically lay 6-19 eggs, which hatch between September
and October after incubating for about 60 days. Hatchlings are about 5-7
inches (13-18 cm) in total length.
Specimen #3 - Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Characteristics:
Length: ranges from 12-24 inches (30-61 cm) in total length, however, has a record
length of 31 inches (79 cm). It is small snake, however, it is a thick one considering its
size.
Skin/Colors: - The body color varies from light to dark gray, and a lengthwise row of
black or charcoal blotches disrupts a reddish-brown stripe running down the middle of
the back. Dark spots occur on the sides and line up with the dorsal blotches. The tail is
slender and ends in a tiny rattle. The belly is heavily mottled with black and white. (The
coloration of juveniles is the same as described for adults, except the tail tip of juveniles
is bright sulfur-yellow in color).
- The dorsal scales of the body are keeled (each scale has a prominent raised ridge). The
head is distinct from the neck and has a black diagonal line just behind the eye. The pupil
is vertically elliptical (cat-like), and there is a deep facial pit organ located between the
nostril and the eye. The top of the head between the eyes is covered with nine large plate-
like scales. (The tip of the tail of newborns ends in a “button”, which is the first segment
of the future rattle).
Common name: Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Scientific name: Sistrurus miliarius barbouri
1. Pygmy rattlesnakes are commonly found in habitats including lowland pine
flatwoods, hydric hammocks, prairies, around lakes and ponds, and along the
borders of many freshwater marshes and cypress swamps. Possibly the habitat
in which dusky pygmy rattlesnakes are most frequently encountered, at least
in southern Florida, is along the banks of canals running through marshes and
prairies. This species can be locally very abundant, and it is often found in
suburban neighborhoods where development encroaches into favorable
habitats.

2. Pygmy rattlesnakes feed on a wide range of small prey including centipedes

and other arthropods, frogs, snakes, lizards, and small mammals. These snakes
may actively pursue prey by following their scent trails, but more typically
these snakes sit and wait to ambush prey. Juveniles have a bright sulfur-
yellow tail tip, which they raise and wiggle like a caterpillar to lure prey
within striking range.

3. In Florida, females typically give birth to around 1-14 live young between
July and August. Females remain with the young for several days, after which
time they all disperse. Competing males engage in combat dances when
trailing females during the breeding season.
Specimen #4 - Rainbow Snake
Characteristics:
Length: ranges from 27-48 inches (70-122 cm) in total length, however, has a record
length of 68.3 inches (173.3 cm).
Skin/Colors: - These snakes are mostly glossy black (iridescent blue in the sunlight) with
three thin red stripes running down the body, one down the middle of the back and one on
each side. The lower sides of the body are yellow or pink fading into the red belly. Black
spots on each belly scale form three lines of dots down the belly. The chin and throat are
yellow.
- Adults are large, thick bodied, and the tail tip ends in a pointed, horny scale. The scales
are mostly smooth and arranged in 19 scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round.
Juveniles are similar in appearance to adults.
Common name: Rainbow Snake
Scientific name: Farancia erytrogramma
1. Rainbow snakes are primarily aquatic and mainly inhabit clear waters of
springs and rivers. They are also sometimes observed in creeks, lakes, cypress
swamps, marshes, and tidal mudflats. Rainbow snakes have been found under
floating vegetation, within banks at water’s edge, and under shoreline debris
such as Spanish moss and logs. They have also been plowed up in fields
several hundred yards from the nearest water. They are occasionally observed
crossing roads at night, especially during or after heavy rains.

2. Rainbow snakes are nocturnal (active at night) and feed primarily on

freshwater American eels, earning them the nickname “Eel moccasin.”
Juveniles are known to eat tadpoles and earthworms. Prey are swallowed alive
without constriction.

3. In Florida, females can lay 10–52 eggs. Females construct a nesting cavity in
loose soil, sand, or debris and may stay with the eggs until they hatch. The
eggs typically hatch between September and October.
Specimen #5 BONUS
Characteristics:
Length: ranges from 22-42 inches (56-107 cm) in total length, however, has a record
length of 62.5 inches (158.8 cm).
Skin/Colors: - These are stout-bodied snakes with broad black, brown, or red crossbands
(often bordered with black) down the back. The lighter narrower bands are tan, gray, or
reddish and may contain a dark spot on the side. The light bands may be broken by a
black strip down the middle of the back. The crossbands may be obscured as the snake
darkens with age, and older individuals may become uniformly black. The background
color may be gray, yellow, tan, or reddish. The belly is light with squarish spots or
creamy yellow with wormlike red or black markings.
- The scales are strongly keeled (each scale has a prominent raised ridge), and there are
21-25 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. A dark stripe extends from the
eye to the angle of the jaw. The tongue is red with a black tip. Juveniles have very clear
crossbands (usually black) on a pale background, but otherwise their coloration is similar
to that described for adults.
Common name: Southern Watersnake
Scientific name: Nerodia fasciata
1. In Florida, southern watersnakes can be found in generally any areas near
shallow bodies of freshwater, such as ponds, swamps, marshes, and ditches.
Adults and juveniles of this species are often found in suburban
neighborhoods where development encroaches into favorable habitats.

2. Southern watersnakes are typically nocturnal (active at night) and feed

primarily on frogs and freshwater fishes. Southern watersnakes are not
constrictors and overpower their prey by simply grabbing it in their jaws and
quickly swallowing it alive.

3. In Florida, females typically give live birth to 6-83 young between July and
September.