Florida banded water snake
subspecies of reptile
The Florida banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris), a subspecies of the banded water snake (southern water snake - Nerodia fasciata), is a nonvenomous natricine colubrid native to the southeastern United States.
Geographic range
The Florida banded water snake is endemic throughout Florida, South Carolina, southwestern and southeastern North Augusta, Beech Island, South West of Aiken County including areas running alongside Savannah River, Northern Georgia. In addition, it has been introduced to Brownsville, Texas.[1] It has also established populations in Folsom and Harbor City, California.
Description
Dorsally, it is light brown or yellowish, with 26–35 reddish-brown to black crossbands. Ventrally, it is yellow or white, with reddish-brown or black markings. In large adult individuals, the ground color on the lower sides is sometimes darker than the crossbands, producing an appearance of alternating blotches on the back and sides.
The Florida water snake differs from the southern water snake (N. f. fasciata) chiefly in the shape of the markings on the ventrals. In N. f.pictiventris, these markings consist of transverse blotches, many of them enclosing an oval white spot, whereas in N. f. fasciata, they are solid, squarish spots.
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