10/04/2026
Museum Resource 🐍 Florida Snake ID Guide
Easy visual ID and searchable tool for learning about our state's snakes including habitat, range, diet and look-alike species.
Featured: Plain-bellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster)
NON-VENOMOUS
Other common names: Yellow-bellied Watersnake, Red-bellied Watersnake
Most adult Plain-bellied Watersnakes are about 30-48 inches (76-122 cm) in total length. Adults are thick-bodied and are uniform greenish gray or reddish-brown in color with no patterning on the back. The belly, neck, and lip scales are almost uniform yellow or reddish-orange. Juveniles are grayish-brown with distinct dark crossbands and blotches. The juvenile pattern fades into the uniform adult coloration within about one year.
In Florida, Plain-bellied Watersnakes are found primarily in the Panhandle west of the Ochlockonee River. However, an apparently separate population is found east of the Panhandle in parts of the Santa Fe River and Suwannee River. If you have a new or interesting observation for this species, our herpetologists would like to hear from you!
👉 Unfortunately, many watersnakes are killed every year by Florida residents who mistake them for cottonmouths. Although cottonmouths occur throughout Florida, they are not nearly as abundant as the eight species of harmless watersnakes (species in the genus Nerodia) that occur in much the same habitats. If you see a snake in or near the water, most likely it is a harmless watersnake, and it is best for everyone involved to simply leave it alone.
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NON-VENOMOUS Other common names Yellow-bellied Watersnake, Red-bellied Watersnake Basic description Most adult Plain-bellied Watersnakes are about 30-48 inches (76-122 cm) in total length. Adults are thick-bodied and are uniform greenish gray or reddish-brown in color with no patterning on the b
