Knowing how to recognize these snakes and the risks they present can help you avoid needless conflicts whether you’re strolling along nature paths or relaxing in your own backyard.
Before exploring Florida’s untamed areas, where even a silent slither could result in a nasty bite, learn important facts about the state’s poisonous snakes.
Eastern Cottonmouth
The pit viper subfamily includes the poisonous Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus), sometimes referred to as a Water Moccasin. Adult snakes are around 36 inches long, while some might reach 60 inches.
This robust-bodied snake, which is typical of vipers, uses a heat-sensing pit to find prey. From the eyes to the sides of the body, there is a noticeable dark line.
Cottonmouths are characterized by dark brown stripes on the flanks and back and a black or dark olive coloring.
In the meanwhile, they have clear elliptical pupils and a triangular head that is frequently larger than the neck when viewed from above.
Ponds, lakes, rivers, and swamps are among the freshwater habitats where this species can be found.
Being fairly aggressive, it will coil up and open its lips wide in response to threats, revealing the inside white of its mouth as a warning.
Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake
Often referred to as the “Ground Rattler,” the Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri) reaches an adult size of 12 to 24 inches.
Its hue varies from light to dark gray or brown, and the reddish-brown stripes intermingled with rows of black on its body help to identify it.
The big, triangular head of this heavy-bodied rattlesnake is typically larger than the neck, and it has a black diagonal streak behind each eye.
Its slender tail ends in a small rattle that alerts adversaries in the area. Still, the rattle is muffled and sounds more like a buzzing insect.
The southern Coastal Plain is home to dusky pygmy rattlesnakes, which favor environments such as sandhills, upland forests, creeks, ponds, and marshes.
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There are a few sightings in the Florida Keys, although they are found throughout much of Florida.
Eastern Coral Snake
One of the species that may be found in Miami is the Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius), also referred to as the American cobra. It is a member of the Elapidae family.
Males grow longer tails, while females are generally longer, reaching a maximum length of 31 inches. The eastern coral is a visually appealing and colorful snake.
Its bodies are surrounded by distinctive rings of yellow, black, and red; the yellow circles are noticeably smaller than the black and red ones. The ring colors are limited to yellow and black on the lowest portion of the body.
Slash pine, live oak hammocks, and wiregrass flatwoods are among the preferred habitats of eastern coral snakes. They can be found in the majority of the Florida peninsula’s sparsely vegetated areas.
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You don’t often come across these snakes because they are timid and submissive. They coil their tails in terror and bury their heads beneath the body when they come into contact with humans.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
With an adult length of 72 inches, the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is the largest poisonous snake in North America.
Its name comes from the dark diamond-shaped markings that run along its spine, and it has a thick and massive body.
The diamonds typically have a cream outline that diminishes as you proceed toward the tail, and a brown core. The snake shakes a common rattle at the end of its tail to ward off trespassers.
A heat-sensing pit located just beneath the eyes helps the snake navigate and hunt, and its head is often thick and triangular.
The Florida pinelands are home to the natural species known as eastern diamond rattlesnakes. They favor areas near barrier islands, pine flatwoods, scrublands, and coastal forests.
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Timber Rattlesnake
Among Florida’s venomous snakes, the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is a prevalent species in the eastern states. Adults typically reach a height of 60 inches and have gray to blackish coloring.
From the head to the sides and back, their thick, heavy bodies are speckled with dark spots. In the meantime, the timber rattlesnake belongs to the pit viper subfamily because of its heat-sensing pit and cat-like eyes.
As cunning predators, these snakes typically remain still and wait for their victim to approach before ambushing them.
The habitats of timber rattlesnakes range from lowland thickets and river floodplains to mountainous woods and swamps.
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