Although there are more than 50 species and sub species of snakes found in Florida only six are listed as venomous and a danger to humans. The first thing I would like to impress upon you is that if you find a snake even one you think is dead leave it alone because even a dead snake can still strike one hour after it was killed. And even nonvenomous snakes will bite you if you annoy them enough, it's called self-defense.



The first of the listed venomous Florida snakes is the copperhead, also called the southern copperhead, the Highland moccasin, and the chunkhead. The snake averages up to 36 inches long though the record for one is 53 inches, it is a stout bodied snake with broad light brown to gray cross bands, the ultimate band is dark to reddish brown. This snake can also sometimes thought to have a pinkish tint to the scales, like all venomous snakes in Florida it has vertical slits for pupils and a distinctive facial pit between the nostril and the eye.

The next venomous Sarasota snake is the cottonmouth, also called the Florida cottonmouth, moccasin and the water moccasin. This snake is mainly confined to the extreme western Panhandle of Florida and its range goes north and east through Alabama to central Georgia and Virginia. Again it is pit viper so it has a vertical slit for a pupil and that triangular shaped flat head distinctive to vipers. Snake is generally banded with dark and light brown bands with some white dividers.

The third venomous Florida snake on the lists is the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, also called diamondback, rattlesnake or rattler. Adult snakes of this species can range up to 72 inches long with a record being 96 inches, it is a large heavy bodied snake with a row of dark diamonds with Brown centers and cream borders down its back. The tail is usually a different shade of brown and like all vipers it has a vertical slit for a pupil in its eyes. This species also has a deep facial pit between the nostrils and the eyes.

The next species is also a Sarasota rattlesnake, also called the timber rattlesnake or a canebreake, they go out to 60 inches long and the record length for one is 74 1/2 inches. Again like most rattlesnakes is a heavy bodied snake with a reddish brown stripe running down the center of its back which is broken up by a series of large black cross bands. The the head is large and sometimes has a dark diagonal line through the eye, it also has a vertical slit pupils and the pit between the eye and the nostrils.

The next Sarasota snake is another rattlesnake, this one is the dusky pygmy rattlesnake. It is quite small being only 24 inches long as an adult but is a very thick snake. The body color is generally light to dark gray with a longitudinal row of black or charcoal blotches. Again it has the vertical slit for a pupil and the pit between the eye and the nostril.

Last but not least is the only venomous snake in the United States that is not a viper, we are talking about the coral snake also called the Eastern coral snake. The stakes grow to about 30 inches long and its body is ringed by alternating yellow black and red bands. The head is always black and because this snake is not a viper it's eye pupils are round.

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