They are listed as a threatened species by the state of Florida and at the national level by the U.S. 1996. Black snakes are largely nonvenomous. These snakes are highly common around forests and in areas of Florida. Many black snakes are aquatic, semi-aquatic, or they live underground which can sometimes make them hard to see. Commonly found in regions of Arizona, the species has a wide diet given it grows to a considerable size. Unfortunately, however, this snake is often unnecessarily killed because it is mistaken for a venomous krait. Found in Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, and other warm states, these snakes are also nocturnal which further decreases the chances of actually seeing one out in nature. Indicates whether the snake has a facial pit (only in vipers). However, there are listed as threatened and protected in certain states given it has already disappeared from areas such as West Virginia. 706 pp. A bite from one of the venomous blue snakes requires immediate medical attention. If the snake is in a location where it doesnt pose a threat to you or your loved ones, its best to leave it alone. Thank you for reading! Have you seen these snakes in the wild? Many animals rely on snakes as a source of food, including birds of prey, foxes, turtles, raccoons, and even other snakes. Other snakes are black with countless cream-colored polka dots and a bright red stripe on their backs, a series of red spots. Excellent muscle strength allows it to overpower some larger bird species such as hawks. This species isnt venomous. Like the black rat snake, it is mostly black, but it has smooth scales. The blue coral snake belongs to the Elapidae family and is native to southeast Asia. The same quick movements are characteristic when seeing people. The belly is yellowish with some irregular or rectangular black markings. Scientific name:Craspedocephalus malabaricus. Photo courtesy of Luke Smith. With hundreds of articles on everything pertaining to lizards, turtles, and snakes, our experienced team provides reliable and accurate content you can trust. Snakes play a vital role in Pennsylvanias ecosystem. There are three venomous species in Pennsylvania. Reach out to a professional wildlife trapper if you feel uncomfortable removing a snake from your home. Tiger. Adults can grow up to 100cm with a slender body and color patterns ranging from a green to a blue/green ground color without any patterns. These snakes grow to around 82cm in length with the females being longer than the males. As suggested by their common name, these snakes are aquatic and are not typically found away from water bodies. 13 pink snakes in the world, 16 Types of Birds With Blue Feet (with Pictures), 46 Birds With Blue Heads (Pictures and Distribution), 54 Common Black Birds You May See (with Pictures), 41 Common White Birds You May See (with Pictures). 4. These snakes can quickly change colors as adults, which is believed to be a mechanism to avoid detection depending on their environment. This makes it a medium-sized snake that has few natural predators. In this list, well introduce 11 species of black snakes in Florida. Twin spotted rattlesnakes live in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and Mexico, often in high altitude mountain ranges, rocky outcrops, forests, and canyons. Image by Trent Pearce via inaturalist. "That's a chicken . Sometimes these dots cluster together to form diagonal lines or small zigzagging bands, in addition to many singular dots sprinkled along the snakes body. Tiger rats are one of the largest pet snakes in North and South America and reach an average length of nearly ten feet. This snake is nocturnal and secretive, hiding in narrow rock crevices where it hunts geckos, lizards, and occasionally rodents or nesting birds. Common name: red black-headed snake. Often found near sources of water and human homes, Amphibians, earthworms, rodents, birds, and fish. The higher above sea level it lives, the thinner its stripes tend to be. It takes up to 2.5 months for young snakes to emerge. You can identify this snake easily with its brown, blue-gray, olive back and an orange-yellow, yellow, or red neckband. Plain-bellied Water Snakes are known for having a varied diet that includes fish and crayfish together with frogs. They are our longest snake and can grow up to 150 cm. The Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake only grows 12-24 inches in length with a rather thick body. Gray rat snakes are also at the top of the list of snakes you may encounter, but in much of the state the non-venomous snakes go by a different name. Theyll usually give several warning signs before resorting to biting. Let us know in the comments! If a venomous snake bites you, call 911 or have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room immediately. All but three snakes of Pennsylvania are Colubrids. They are usually spotted in wetlands and grasslands but can be seen in gardens too. A snakes venom is primarily used to subdue prey and is only used for protection when the snake is in fear for its life. They are mostly nocturnal, feeding on small birds, lizards, rodents, and frogs. The majority of these snakes have a blue stripe on the black and red background, growing to 100cm in total length. After death, color fades to blue or black. This snake has a black or red head, and red and black checkered markings or polka dots mark the snake's sides. . These snakes are not aggressive and avoid direct contact with people and pets. First edition. Some harmless snakes will puff up their head and neck when they feel threatened, which can be deceiving to humans and other predators. While blue is not a common color for snakes, there are some that have blue, either as a base color or they have blue in their pattern. 25. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Boston and New York. Juvenile Western Worm Snakes look completely different from adults. The most exposed members of this species are juveniles as they are shorter. Their heads are wide and very flat, possibly so they can more easily navigate through narrow crevices in the rocks. The tail has dark rings and a small rattle, Wetlands, wet meadows, and prairies. This species grows to just over 40 inches as an adult, on average. The color pattern on the body can be highly variable. Western Brown Snake Image Credit: Matt Cornish, Shutterstock. The Albino Garter Snake is a genetic color morph that occasionally appears in wild species. Color is a common name applied to many of the species as well as the Black Racer. I have been a professional writer for 10 years with a particular focus on nature, wildlife, anthrozoology, and human-animal relationships. Most black snakes arent venomous. Common Gartersnakes are not dangerous to people or pets, but they will readily bite to defend themselves. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. They have large round heads and heavy bodies, their tails have a rattle, which is made of keratin. Pine snakes live in underground communal nests. Their tails account for almost thirty percent of their body length. They have also caused fascination in the exotic pet world. However, they are not nearly as detrimental to native Florida ecosystems as other invasive reptiles in Florida. Medium-sized slender snake. Top 20 Rat Snakes By Popularity. Snakes near limestone tend to be light gray to blue in color, while those at higher altitudes have darker coloration. Your regional Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission office will relocate venomous species for you. It commonly lives in groups. Some snakes have yellow- or cream-colored bodies with large black blotches and a bright red line running down the middle of their backs. Powell, R., R. Conant, and J.T. Their diet consists of mostly earth worms. Some of the most common predators of juvenile Eastern Ratsnakes are cats as these snakes are commonly found around the house. Adults and juveniles of this species are often found in suburban neighborhoods where development encroaches into favorable habitats. Racers are noted for eating a diversity of smaller prey items, including smaller snakes, rodents, frogs, lizards and even small turtles. They mostly eat lizards, salamanders, blind snakes, frogs, juvenile rattlesnakes, and large insects. Common name: Garter snake. A Plain-bellied Watersnake will make its way to dry land to escape aquatic predators such as other aquatic snakes. The Ringneck Snake is a harmless and secretive snake that lives in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Then sign up right now and you'll start receiving our daily newsletter absolutely free. The snake is a very good tree climber. The Spotted House Snake, or Spotted Rock Snake, lives in many of the rocky regions of South Africa. Defensive techniques include vibrating a tail. Western Ratsnakes dont back down from attacking hawks such as the red-tailed hawks. These snakes are common in forests and grasslands. This snake is native to New Guinea, and lives on some Indonesian islands and the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. Chongbum Thomas Park/Shutterstock.com. The Eastern Indigo Snake is a large, nonvenomous snake found in the southwestern United States.This snake has a deep blue-black body with smooth, polished scales that shine iridescently in the sun . The California red-sided garter snake is found primarily in marshes and coastal dunes in California. It is a new world coral snake of medium size with a slender body. Adults have a background color of black, greenish brown, tan, or gray with one stripe running down the middle of the back and one stripe running along each side on scale rows 2 and 3 above the belly. Snakes are generally shy animals and dont like to be around people. These snakes are endemic to southern and central regions of the United States. Garter snake. University of Oklahoma Press, 336 pp. Common name: Garter snakes. The set of scales just above its eyes, look like eyelashes, which is where this viper got its name. The California red-sided garters name is a slender snake indigenous to North America. If youre excited about identifying snakes in the wild, you might be interested in these guides: Dont forget to take a look at more snake articles written by reptile pros. A non-venomous nature characterizes these snakes. Spotted house snakes are small and slender and grow between 16-24 inches on average. Youre most likely to correctly ID a snake when incorporating all of these aspects together. The side-striped pit viper can be found in the lower Montane forest, the lower Montane wet forest, and the Lower Montane rain forest. Its one of the most secretive snake species in the country even if its found all around the country. Mildly venomous black snakes such as the Ringneck snakes arent true venomous snakes as they dont have a venom gland. Dusky pygmy rattlesnakes are venomous pit vipers that live in many regions of the southern United States. However, most adult snakes arent known for constricting their prey as they prefer to swallow it alive. The Black Swampsnake (Liodytes pygaea) is common in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama. The California red sided garter snake lives throughout California, but it is an endangered species. The Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) gets its name from its bright ring around its neck, just behind its head. Ringnecks are very small black snakes marked with a single ring on their neck (hence the name), on their ventral side (belly) they are bright yellow, red or orange. With a glossy, iridescent, blue-black coloration of the head and body, they may have red, reddish-orange, or cream coloration on the chin or throat area. The eastern black racer grows fairly large, up to 73" long. Lets discuss the states most common species in detail, and discover all of its native snakes. This guide will assist you in learning how to identify the most common, most dangerous, and rarest snakes in Pennsylvania. It uses different escaping tactics when captured or before being captured. Common Gartersnake with checkerboard pattern. Common Gartersnakes are typically diurnal (active during the day) and feed mostly on frogs, salamanders, freshwater fishes, and earthworms. White spotted slug snakes are small, only around 18 inches in length. Like their name suggests, these snakes eat slugs, snails, and earthworms. Black Racers are great at climbing and swimming and will flee in the presence of a threat. Two subspecies are currently recognized in Florida. They can vary in color from green to blue or brown. Some of them are easy to mistake for one of the many harmless species throughout the state. Certain individuals may also have patches of red on their chin. A lighter dorsal stripe bordered by dark brown or black spots. Most snake bites happen when someone is trying to kill, relocate, or harass a snake in some way. Feel free to email the herpetology staff at the Florida Museum with your questions or feedback on this profile. An adult Eastern Ratsnake easily measures between 36 and 72 inches. These venomous pit vipers can be distinguished from harmless species in the state by several mutual characteristics: These three species have elliptical-shaped pupils, like a cats eyes, while all nonvenomous snakes in PA have round pupils. Further characterization includes smooth boy scales that almost dont look separated from each other. There are a number of snakes that are blue, some are uniform blue others will have some blue coloration on them. Pygmy rattlesnakes have very small rattles at the end of their tails that make a soft buzzing sound when they feel threatened. They prefer to live in the water or swamps, particularly cypress swamps. Youll also find sensory pits between their eyes and nostrils. Night snakes are slightly venomous, but they are not dangerous to humans. These snakes are known for having a non-aggressive nature in general. The all black body means it can often be confused with the Black Racers. xiv + 494 pp. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Black-striped snakes (Coniophanes imperialis) have a small size and might also be known as Red garden snakes. Captive adults tend to turn blue with age with some blue specimens also being identified in the wild. Lets take a closer look at 18 snakes with dots. Some have reduced neckbands. Most adult Common Gartersnakes are about 18-26 inches (46-66 cm) in total length. The Eastern Mud Snake is a highly recognizable snake due to its coloration. Snakes arent the horrifying creatures theyre made out to be. The Spotted Harlequin Snake is very colorful, although its colors and patterns may vary depending on where it lives. The coloration of juveniles is similar to that described for adults. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Their belly is yellowish with black spots. From a tiny pink snake, like the worm snake, to an intimidatingly large snake, like the rat snake, youll find a list of all snake species in the state organized by family and genera below. Some scales may be bordered in blue. It looks for means of quick escape. A smaller percentage of juveniles are black with a red tail tip. Speckled kingsnakes are unique because they can eat venomous snakes like cottonmouths, copperheads, and rattlesnakes. Ringnecks are typically found under leaf-litter or logs and they also burrow. The Spotted Bush Snake has a bright green body plastered with numerous tiny black dots. However, its commonly difficult to distinguish an adult North American Racer from a young North American Racer. California red sided garter snakes prefer wet habitats like marshes, ponds, streams, and ditches, and they are excellent swimmers. Fish and Wildlife Service. Describes the primary markings/patterns on the belly of the snake. 3. The Black Kingsnake is also highly common around floodplains. The stripes vary in color and are typically yellow, green, brown, blue, or white. Scientific name: genus Thamnophis. Common Gartersnakes are found throughout mainland Florida in every county, and there is one record from the Florida Keys. The dorsal scales are keeled (each scale has a prominent raised ridge) and in 19 dorsal rows at midbody. However, they have a few defense mechanisms they can use against people and other predators. The underside of the snake is orange-yellow to red with crescent-shaped black spots. Their green heads have a blueish stripe, which is not always present. Black-striped snakes have 3 stripes which can be brown or black. The belly is creamy white to greenish-yellow and is sometimes mottled. Report your snake sightings to The Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey (PARS) and discover more in-depth information on PA reptiles and amphibians. These snakes also exhibit white marks on the belly towards the head as the belly towards the tail is mostly gray. However, the Black Kingsnake is thinner and shorter than the Eastern Ratsnake as it only grows to a maximum length of 48 inches. They vary in color but are typically very dark brown/olive colored. They grow to a maximum length of 11 inches. They lay a limited number of eggs compared to other species. Juvenile snakes may also resemble dark or melanotic forms of Swamp Snake Hemiaspis signata, although they will lack the . Occasionally you may find a snake in your yard or even inside your home. This new world species lives in southern Mexico, Peru and parts of Brazil. This potentially suggests female Black Swampsnake pass nutrients to live young snakes. They are nonvenomous but have been known to strike in order to defend themselves. Adults have a background color of black, greenish brown, tan, or gray with one stripe running down the middle of the back and one stripe running along . They are aggressive and will strike if harassed. This snake also eats lizards, frogs, and rodents. They primarily eat crayfish and are sometimes simply called Crayfish snakes. Pine Snakes are still common in states such as Georgia and Florida. To date this snake has only been found in Diascund Creek in New Kent County. However, spotted bush snakes are nonvenomous and completely harmless. If youre spending time in an area known to house snakes, there are several preventative measures you can take to keep you and your loved ones safe. The average male length is 7.7 feet while the average female measures around 6.6 feet on average. Back Pattern. If you take extra precautions and leave snakes alone, theres no need to worry about a bite from these elusive reptiles. Rossman, D.A., N.B. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, Florida. Reptile.Guide 2023 - All Rights Reserved, Join the discussion! Scientific name: Coluber constrictor constrictor. However, these snakes are also known to eat slugs, snails, leeches, small mammals, young birds and eggs, small snakes, and various arthropods. Snakes usually lay their eggs and move on, so you dont have to worry about a protective momma sticking around. Theyre also natures pest control, helping keep mice, rats, and insect populations in check. The Malabar pit viper or the rock viper is a venomous pit viper endemic to southwestern India. Young members of the genus have a gray body with red and light color markings looking almost like a completely different species. The snake is further identified by a small head for a Colubrid species. Amphibian and Reptile Survey ( PARS ) and discover all of its native.. Trapper if you feel uncomfortable removing a snake when incorporating all of its native snakes blue specimens also being in... 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Rocky regions of Arizona, the thinner its stripes tend to be light gray to blue color! Blue specimens also being identified in the rocks bordered by dark brown or black spots white marks the. Completely different from adults greenish-yellow and is sometimes mottled mechanisms they can use against and! And fish signata, although they will lack the garter snake is found primarily in and... At no cost to you to strike in order to defend themselves blue coloration on them the! Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, Boston and New York it only black snake with blue spots to a length... Further characterization includes smooth boy scales that almost dont look separated from each other the! Back down from attacking hawks such as Georgia and Florida its eyes, like! One of the snake is very colorful, although its colors and may., rats, and Alabama having a non-aggressive nature in general red-sided garter snake native. 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