Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone know what the differences are between these two snakes. I have a desert and I don't know if my new snake is also a desert or an intergrade (eastern x florida). Anyone have the scale counts on these? They look almost exactly alike....both are juveniles.

Thanks alot for any help you guys can give me
Nick

I'm not sure about the scale count and if it's that diagnostic for this sub-species.

But in general Desert's will be smaller snakes with usually many more, thinner crossbars (up to like 80 or something); floridana has up to like 60 (usually less though), somewhat thicker crossbars. Also, and maybe even better is that Desert's usually have a ton of speckling on their sides - I've never confused a Desert with a floridana in person but without a pic or knowing the husbandry (if captive bred) it's really hard to say.

If you provide some more details about the crossbars and amount of speckling on the sides maybe someone on here can help; I'm sure the CalKing guys on here can tell you straight away.

Peace.

-John

As stated below, a picture would clear this up in a second.

In general, a desert king often has a mostly black belly, but not always. Many desert kings also have a largely black head with just some yellow/white on the labials and rostral scales.

Desert Kings never show red in the lateral blotches while young peninsular FL kings often do.

They are actually quite different looking snakes.
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Chris Harrison