What Snakes Live In The Florida Everglades?

The National Park Service (NPS) lists 29 species that call the park their home. Four of these are venomous (pygmy rattlesnake, cottonmouth, coral snake, and Eastern diamondback) and three are invasive (boa constrictor, Burmese python, Brahminy blind snake). While snakes have a bad rap and ophidiophobia (aka a phobia of snakes) may well be innate, conservationists say they are an essential component of the ecosystem, playing a crucial role in species management. 

Meet the snakes that call the Everglades their home. 

 Native species

Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius)

Colorful and deadly, the red, black and yellow stripes serve as a warning. The highly venomous snake belongs to the same family as cobras and mambas. While a bite from one of these snakes can be lethal, fatalities are rare – until 2009, there were no documented deaths due to coral snakes since the discovery of an antivenom in the 1960s. 

Florida Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti)

According to the University of Florida (UF), the cottonmouth is so-named because of the white mouth they display when under threat. 

Many non-venomous snakes mimic the appearance of cottonmouths. According to the Florida Museum, these lethal serpents can be identified by their cat-like eyes, their facial pit organ and the thin dark vertical lines etched onto the sides of their face.  

Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri)

Another venomous snake found in Florida’s Everglades is the dusky pygmy rattlesnake. Its rattle is small and quiet, resembling insects’ buzz more than a rattle. While its bite is painful, according to the Florida Museum, it is rarely life-threatening to people or pets. 

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

The Eastern diamondback rattlesnake is uncommon but highly venomous if crossed with. According to the University of Florida (UF), it mostly munches on marsh rabbits and cottontails and prefers upland wooded areas. 

Florida Green Water Snake (Nerodia floridana)

As its name suggests, the Florida Green Water Snake spends a lot of time in and near water, making Florida’s wetlands the perfect haven. It is a dark olive, murky brown color and feasts on frogs and fish. 

Brown Water Snake (Nerodia taxispilota)

The Brown Water Snake is browner in color but shares many similarities with the Florida Green Water Snake, living in swamps and other aquatic habitats and surviving on a diet of frogs and fish.

Florida Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris)

While it may resemble the more deadly cottonmouth, the Florida banded water snake is non-venomous. They feed on frogs and freshwater fish and inhabit Florida’s ponds, swamps and marshes. 

South Florida Swamp Snake (Seminatrix pygaea cyclas)

According to the University of Florida (UF), the South Florida swamp snake (also known as a black swamp snake) is the shy, retiring type. It does not bite and is harmless unless you are a frog, tadpole or salamander.

Florida Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi victa)

Commonly found in Florida’s Everglades, the Florida brown snake survives on a diet of insects. It is also known as Dekay’s brown snake in honor of the nineteenth-century zoologist James Ellsworth De Kay. 

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)

Another commonly found snake is the Eastern garter snake, which enjoys hunting aquatic animals such as fish, frogs and salamanders.

Peninsula Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sackenii)

Small and thin with a long stripe (or ribbon) running down its back, this snake is commonly found near water, feasting on small prey like tadpoles and earthworms.

Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

The unusual-looking Eastern hognose possesses an extraordinary snout. It is also known for pretending to play dead when threatened. 

Southern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus)

The Southern Ringneck snake likes to lurk in damp areas and much on small insects such as slugs. 

Eastern Mud Snake (Farancia abacura abacura)

Racer by name, racer by nature. The southern black racer is exceptionally fast and can reach lengths of six feet (almost 2 meters).

Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)

The green snake blends into the trees and shrubs it inhabits. According to the Florida Museum, they are found throughout mainland Florida.

Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi)

The eastern indigo snake is rare and federally protected. It is also Florida’s largest non-venomous snake. 

Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata guttata)

The corn snake also goes by the name of the red rat snake and is incredibly versatile, making a home in almost any habitat. 

Yellow Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata)

As the name implies, rats are the meal of choice for this species of snake. However, when the occasion requires, they will eat birds and small mammals. 

Florida Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula floridana)

While not venomous itself, the Florida kingsnake will prey on venomous species such as the cottonmouth. 

Eastern coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

Eastern coachwhips are found throughout mainland Florida and can reach lengths of 60 inches (152 centimeters).

Mangrove salt marsh snake (Nerodia clarkii compressicauda)

Mangrove salt marsh snakes are endemic to Florida and lurk in salt marshes, estuaries and mudflats. Their color ranges from gray to brown to rusty orange.  

Striped crayfish snake

The striped crayfish snake (or striped swampsnake) are nocturnal snakes that hunt crayfish and other aquatic creatures, such as salamanders, frogs and tadpoles. 

Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides)

The scarlet kingsnake has distinctive red markings. It is uncommon but versatile, surviving in most habitats. 

Florida Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea coccinea)

This scarlet-colored snake grows to lengths of roughly 14-20 inches (36-51 centimeters) and is found throughout mainland Florida.

Non-native species

Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus)

These southern and southeast Asian natives can reach whopping lengths of 10-16 feet (or 3-5 meters), making them roughly the size of a Beetle Volkswagen or twice as long as a Queen’s size bed. Burmese pythons have been spotted in Florida since the 1980s, the largest of which was more than 5 meters (over 18 foot) long and weighed a total of 97 kilograms (215 pounds). 

Boa constrictor (boa constrictor)

While they tend to be a little smaller and stockier, boa constrictors share a certain physical resemblance to the Burmese python and can also reach impressive lengths.

Another non-native species, boas are typically found in Central and Southern America. According to the University of Florida (UF), those discovered in the Everglades are more likely to be pets that have been discarded or escaped than wild serpents. Currently, the only known breeding populations in the Sunshine State are found in Miami-Dade County. 

Brahminy blind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus)

Small, thin and blind, the Brahminy blind snake has a wormlike appearance and is often found hanging out in flower beds and gardens – hence its nickname, flowerpot snake. Like worms, Brahminy blind snakes are exceptional borrowers and rarely grow to be longer than 6.5 inches. 

The snake is a non-native species, originally found in southern Asia, but has been spotted in Florida since the 1970s.