Barry Mansell photo.

Scientific name: Nerodia clarkii clarkii

Description: Average adult size is 15-20 inches (38-51 cm), record is 36 inches (91.4 cm). Adults are grayish with four dark longitudinal stripes on their body, two on each side. The belly is reddish-brown to gray with 1 or 3 rows of light spots. The scales are keeled, and there are 21-23 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juvenile coloration is similar to adults.

Gulf salt marsh snake: Left to right: Top of the head (notice the large plate-like scales on the top of the head);
underside of the head (chin and throat).

Gulf salt marsh snake: Left to right: Side of the head; front (face view) of the head.

Range: In Florida, it is found along the Gulf coast from central Florida northwest to the tip of the panhandle. Outside Florida, it is found along the Gulf coast from Florida to southern Texas.

Habitat: Commonly found along the coast in brackish and saltwater estuaries, salt marshes, and tidal mud flats.

Comments: . The salt marsh snake is active mainly at night, though its activity patterns may be affected by tidal patterns and seasons. Since it does not have salt glands to help it get rid of the salt it ingests from its estuarine habitat, in order to survive it must obtain freshwater, such as from rain, shifting tides, or body fluids of their prey.

It can be found hiding in tidal wrack along the shore and sometimes is seen inhabiting crab burrows in the sand or mud. It feeds on small fishes, crabs, shrimp, and other invertebrates trapped in isolated pools of water by the falling tide.

It gives birth to live young which average 7-9 inches (17.7-22.8 cm) long at birth.

Comparison with other species: The striped crayfish snake (Regina alleni) has a uniform light-colored belly. The queen snake (Regina septemvittata) is much thinner and has only 2 light-colored stripes on its body.

It should not happen often, but some people might confuse a salt marsh snake with a venomous cottonmouth. However, it is easy to distinguish between cottonmouths and salt marsh snakes and other water snakes.

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