Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Saw a dozen or so of these guys today along with a few common FL. water snakes. Only this small one was close enough to nab for a photo however. Some of the browns in this area are quite light even as adults.
:Mark

Pretty little taxi. About how big is it? It's hard to tell from the pic.

Do you see any colorful Florida Watersnakes in your parts?
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

That particular snake was around 12" or so but I kinda doubt it was this year's. I dunno maybe, but I doubt it. We saw one or two very cool ones and I have a question for you:
Have you known the taxi to intergrade w/fasciata??
The reason I ask is based on the looks of one small one we could not reach. When he dropped out of the reeds and into the water, his pattern was the oddest of any taxi I have seen. Almost an alternating blotch side to side thing. (I know that's a lousy description) Anyway, it has me wanting to check out the brownies at this lake more closely...
Also if you look close at this animal, he has a bit of aberrancy you don't often see, and his head isn't 100% taxi (to me)but juvies are difficult to judge.
:Mark

There are no recorded incidences of hybridization between Nerodia fasciata and Nerodia taxispilota. The two species are not very closely related within the genus, or in other words they are in different "clades". The snake in your picture looks like a normal Brown Watersnake to me, although it is a pretty one! As for the snake you saw, I couldn't guess as to the cause for its aberrancy without actually seeing the animal. I guess you need to go out and catch some more huh?
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

I didn't think they'd be very likely to cross, but figured you, if anyone, would know. The thing is.. the little guy did present himself for a quick pic OR a grab (try) and of course I missed. Laying on a boardwalk possibly inches away from a gator (nest only yards away) makes your grabs into the water a bit unnerving at times
:Mark

The light ones are nice. What is the terrain like where you're finding these guys? Do you spot them on the ground or ...?

..we were above them on a walk as they lay in/on the cattails and reeds of a local lake. Just out of reach, and it is a bit dangerous to just grab in there! The mamma gators and cottonmouths are also very hard to see
Here's a shot of another and shows just how hard they are to spot sometimes.
:Mark

sorry......

Well at least it was'nt a giant tadpole! (Sorry Justin, could'nt help myself).
I have to admit, I love those "in-situ" pics. Makes me feel more like I'm there with you, at the moment of discovery. Fortuneatley for me, I'm not 'cause ... I'd be snake bit and gator chewed! " OK, guys, lets get the Canadian out of the swamp, AGAIN!"

..that Canadians make better bait than New Yorkers.
:Mark

Aw heck, those guys told me the nylon string was a life-line!
Makes sense though, you are what you eat, considering all that back-bacon I scarf down ...