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Please I.D. this reptile

elgordoboy avatar
Beach Fanatic
6,435 views1

it was in my front yard near my bike.

Replies

51
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#27
Please don't kill any of them, they do serve a purpose. Corn snakes eat rats and mice, they were commonly called corn snakes because you could find them in the corn bins.

I'll agree up to a point on that. Water moccasins, vile nasty creatures. Encounter one and you will definitely change your tune quickly. :eek:
seagrovegirl avatar
Beach Fanatic
#28
I'll agree up to a point on that. Water moccasins, vile nasty creatures. Encounter one and you will definitely change your tune quickly. :eek:

You are right...NAST, NASTY snake!!!! Yewww. As a kid, I was run out of Oyster Lake in Dune Allen by a water moccasin....nightmarish!:creepy:
Miss Critter avatar
Beach Fanatic
#29
From UF Extension:

Florida is home to 45 species of native snakes, six of which are venomous (poisonous). The venomous species include five pit vipers (Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake, Copperhead, and Cottonmouth) and the Coral Snake. Copperheads and Timber Rattlesnakes have a limited range in Florida. Copperheads only occur in a small area of Florida's Panhandle just west of Tallahassee, and Timber Rattlesnakes are only found in northern Florida as far south as Gainesville and in limited portions of the Panhandle. The other four venomous species are found throughout the state. Florida's venomous snakes occur in a variety of natural habitats, ranging from swamps to dry woods.

The five species of pit vipers all share several characteristics. The pupils of their eyes are vertical (cat-like) and they have a deep facial pit between each eye and nostril. These characteristics can be difficult to see unless a snake is examined closely, so do not rely on them to differentiate venomous from non-venomous species. :yikes:
Florida's pit vipers have blocky, triangular-shaped heads that are distinctly broader than their necks. Relative to their length, these species are heavy-bodied snakes.
pgurney avatar
Beach Fanatic
#30
For identification purposes - please note that a Copperhead has bands that get narrow at the top. NO nonvenomous snake in North America has bands that get more narrow on the top of the snake. It is the quickest and easiest way to tell.

Now one only has to remember you're talking about the dark bands. :eek:
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#31
Kind of like a zebra, eh, pgurney? You don't know if the animal is white with black stripes, or black with white stripes.

Here is a pic of the cute one on which I almost stepped. I would have crushed it. He's a "lucky dog."

InletBchDweller avatar
SoWal Insider
#32
My eyes are on the front of my head not the sides, I would have eaten him if I'd had to assassinate him. :wave: But I am glad I am doing neither.
oh my, you and Mr. IBD would get along. eat what you kill...:lol:

Please don't kill any of them, they do serve a purpose. Corn snakes eat rats and mice, they were commonly called corn snakes because you could find them in the corn bins.

I also agree to a certain point. Pygmy rattlesnakes are always on my list of "to kill" after one bit little IBD. :angry: Funny thing is, she is fascinated with snakes. Loves the displays at the Zoo....:lol:

Edited

ShallowsNole avatar
Beach Fanatic
#33
About the facial features of a pit viper...pretty sure we have killed a fair number of innocent banded water snakes in my neck of the woods over my lifetime. Neither Fuzz nor I see well enough to lean over the subject snake in order to examine a stripe on the face or the shape of the pupil. This is particularly true when said critter is coiling up, even though moccasins do not need to coil to strike.

Moccasins do tend to be thicker, though. And they just LOOK mean.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#34
You'll know it is a moccasin when it starts chasing you. lol. I'm not kidding. I once saw a guy jump backwards five feet, while in mid step, when he spooked a moccasin, which started to go after him. I was standing right beside him, but the snake went after him and not me (fortunately for me). We were on the outskirts of a field which bordered a swampy area. The snake chased him maybe 15' back into the field. They tend to be very aggressive. I'd much rather be in waist-deep water with a gator than a Cotton Mouth! The gator will leave you alone. The snake won't.
Franny avatar
Beach Fanatic
#35
You are right...NAST, NASTY snake!!!! Yewww. As a kid, I was run out of Oyster Lake in Dune Allen by a water moccasin....nightmarish!:creepy:

A couple of weeks ago we were having lunch outside at Hurricanes. We looked over in the little pond and saw a moccasin swimming around...then we saw another and then another. Total of three, 2 larger one smaller. The smaller one would stop and perch his head up as if he was watching us. Everyone eating lunch and the servers came out to see..pretty creepy.:eek:but cool:biggrin:
JUL avatar
Beach Fanatic
#36
Where did you find this snake? My friend told me she saw red snakes on the beach in Costa Rica...I'm glad SoWal beaches don't have snakes...or maybe I was wrong
JUL avatar
Beach Fanatic
#37
Has anyone ever heard of snakes traveling in the water downstream in a ball...more than one snake...a ball of snakes
NoHall avatar
hmmmm......can't remember
#38
Has anyone ever heard of snakes traveling in the water downstream in a ball...more than one snake...a ball of snakes
Only in Lonesome Dove.
seagrovegirl avatar
Beach Fanatic
#39
oh my, you and Mr. IBD would get along. eat what you kill...:lol:



I also agree to a certain point. Pygmy rattlesnakes are always on my list of "to kill" after one bit little IBD. :angry: Funny thing is, she is fascinated with snakes. Loves the displays at the Zoo....:lol:

I've been bit by what we think was a Pygmy...the bite was so small and I didn't realize that slap on my ankle was a snake...thought is was briars. I had the symptoms of a snake bite...sick for about 4 months. Thank God I didn't see it bite me.
pgurney avatar
Beach Fanatic
#40
Yep, like a zebra.

Here's one I ran into last week at a job site in New Mexico. I went for a little walk while waiting for a meeting. Walked right past this thing without knowing it...then got the heebie jeebie feeling. I thought to myself, you know, you better not go too far since you don't know what critters are out here. So I turned around to go back and got the crap scared out of me when I saw it. I am so SO afraid of snakes! If that had been a rattler I'd probably still be standing there waiting for it to leave.
SoWal Insider
#41
Has anyone ever heard of snakes traveling in the water downstream in a ball...more than one snake...a ball of snakes
wow, that's creepy. :shock:
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#42
Here is a mating ball of Garter Snakes

aggieb avatar
Beach Fanatic
#43
these always looked like copperheads to me. :eek:

well, you should know that every snake looks either like a copperhead, coral or moccasin to me. :lol:


I also should say that I cannot stretch my legs out under my desk now - skeered that a snake might be laying under there.

.

oh man, just when I thought it was safe to come back to this thread, there are TWO more snake pix posted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :angry:

thanks :angry:

wow, that's creepy. :shock:


:funn:are you going to be ok?
kathydwells avatar
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
#44
Kind of like a zebra, eh, pgurney? You don't know if the animal is white with black stripes, or black with white stripes.

Here is a pic of the cute one on which I almost stepped. I would have crushed it. He's a "lucky dog."


Great pic, SJ. Glad he is still alive!!!!
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#45
You'll know it is a moccasin when it starts chasing you. lol. I'm not kidding. I once saw a guy jump backwards five feet, while in mid step, when he spooked a moccasin, which started to go after him. I was standing right beside him, but the snake went after him and not me (fortunately for me). We were on the outskirts of a field which bordered a swampy area. The snake chased him maybe 15' back into the field. They tend to be very aggressive. I'd much rather be in waist-deep water with a gator than a Cotton Mouth! The gator will leave you alone. The snake won't.

Yep, and if your in a canoe or a kayak on a wooded lake or stream you can usually do a pretty good impression of Jesus. Happened to me once in boyscouts. Needless to say I made it ten feet to the river bank and never got wet.
Sheila avatar
SoWal Insider
#46
I can I.D. it. It's a freakin' snake!!!!!!:shock: (note to self....never ever open a thread with the word reptile, ever again!!!!) :eek:
SoWal Insider
#47
I can I.D. it. It's a freakin' snake!!!!!!:shock: (note to self....never ever open a thread with the word reptile, ever again!!!!) :eek:
I agree but I KEEP coming back! :eek:
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#48
I agree but I KEEP coming back! :eek:
olive avatar
Beach Fanatic
#49
Only in Lonesome Dove.

Hands down, the scariest scene in a mini-series ever!!!:eek:

Tried to rep you for a great reference but I already gave you too much love!!!:wub::wub::wub:
SoWal Insider
#50
yep, I'm back yet again. :roll:
Rita avatar
margarita brocolia
#51
Yep, and if your in a canoe or a kayak on a wooded lake or stream you can usually do a pretty good impression of Jesus. Happened to me once in boyscouts. Needless to say I made it ten feet to the river bank and never got wet.




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