The Location: Trimble Park, Lake county, central Florida (north and northwest of Orlando. West of Sanford. Far south of Gainesville & Ocala).



The Habitat: Lakeside - quickly retreated into the water (only got a couple of photographs).



Size: Fairly thick Nerodia... Probably about 3 1/2 feet in length.



Nerodia supposed to be found in this region (central Florida, interior):

-Florida banded watersnake (N. fasciata pictiventris)

-Florida green watersnake (N. floridana)

-Brown watersnake (N. taxispilota)



Other Florida Nerodias, but not supposed to be right here:

-Mangrove salt marsh snake (N. clarkii compressicauda) [gulf coast, peninsula]

-Atlantic salt marsh snake (N. clarkii taeniata) [atlantic coast, peninsula]

-Gulf salt marsh snake (N. clarkii clarkii) [gulf coast, panhandle]

-Green watersnake (N. cyclopion) [panhandle, northwest]

-Redbelly watersnake (N. erythrogaster erthrogaster) [north]

-Yellowbelly watersnake (N. erythrogaster flavigaster) [panhandle]

-Banded water snake (N. fasciata fasciata) [north & panhandle]

-Midland watersnake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) [north & panhandle]



Alright, so I got this picture of this snake... And I'm stumped. I've thrown this question out at various places (like in the watersnake forum). I've had mixed responses that this could be a remarkably red variant of the Florida green watersnake - or - a banded watersnake.



What's your take? What do you think? I'm eager to identify this fellow so I can put these pictures on the right page of my Florida wildlife site!!!



Thanks for your time!

Beneath the Spanish Moss: Florida Wildlife Photography

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