Caramello and Green

Florida (banded) watersnake.
Nerodia fasciata pictiventris.
September 9th, 2006.
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens;
Gainesville, Florida.
Nikon D70s.
~~~~~

The Florida banded watersnake (aka the "Florida watersnake") is perhaps the most abundant of Florida's peninsular Nerodias, or non-venomous watersnakes. Unfortunately for these guys, however, most people don't make much of a distinction between any of the watersnakes and the venomous Florida cottonmouth. For many people, if it's a snake and it's near water, it must be a cottonmouth. And, if it's a cottonmouth, it must be killed. Sadly, I find these guys dead all the time, clearly the victim of somebody's boot heel.

The Florida bandeds seems to have three dominant color patternations. This is an example of what I call the "caramello" variant. They're very orange-ish. Usually, the bandeds are darker. I've found this variant at both Kanapaha in Gainesville and at Palm Island Park in Mt. Dora (a bit south, in Lake county). A very lovely snake.

~ janson