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Nerodia taxispilota
Brown Water Snake
Florida native
These snakes can be found frequently along rivers, canals, creeks, flooded prairies and occasionally ponds and lakes throughout nearly all of Florida except the Keys. The range extends into southern Alabama, most of Georgia and north through the coastal plain into Virginia.
The second largest of the water snakes in Florida, females can reach 5-1/2 feet in length. Dark tan to dark brown dorsally, typically with a series of large dark blotches on top alternating with smaller dark blotches along the sides. The underside is lighter.
Frequently found basking above the water draped in the branches of trees and shrubs or occasionally on top of logs in the water.
Nerodia taxispilota is a member of the Colubridae - Colubrids - nonvenomous snakes family.
Other species of the Nerodia genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Nerodia fasciata var. pictiventris - FLORIDA WATER SNAKE
Nerodia floridana - FLORIDA GREEN WATER SNAKE
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Florida Museum page for this species
Date record last modified: Apr 05, 2020
