Kenneth L. Krysko photo.

Scientific name: Nerodia clarkii compressicauda

Description: Average adult size is 14-28 inches (35.5-71.1 cm), record is 36.75 inches (93.3 cm). Adults are variable in color. They may be grayish-olive, brown, or rusty orange with faint darker bands. Some individuals may be almost entirely black. There may be dark stripes on the neck. The belly is reddish-brown on rusty orange individuals, clouded gray on olive-gray individuals, clouded tan on brownish individuals, or mostly black with a central row of light spots on black-colored individuals. The scales are keeled, and there are 21-23 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juvenile coloration is similar to adults.

Mangrove 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).

Mangrove 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 south to the keys, and north to around Brevard Co. on the Altlantic coast. It is not found outside of Florida.

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

Comments: . The mangrove salt marsh snake is frequently seen basking above the water on the limbs of mangrove trees. It is active primarily at night, depending on tidal patterns and seasons. It inevitably ingests salt from its estuarine habitats. Since it does not have salt glands to help it get rid of excess salt, it must occasionally obtain freshwater, such as from rain, coastal streams, or body fluids of their prey.

It feeds on small fishes, crabs, shrimp, and other invertebrates trapped in isolated pools of water by the falling tide.

It is live-bearing. Young average 7 to 9.5 inches (17.7-24.1 cm) at birth. Up to 22 young have been recorded.

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.

While it does not happen often, some people could 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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Checklist of Florida Amphibians and Reptiles — Florida Herpetology