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You can tell the difference between the two by bellies, correct? Which are these?

Thanks!

First & last pictiventris (FL water), the others fasciata (banded water)?

Thanks for your reply! How can you tell the difference? I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to be looking at to identify the subspecies.

I thought it was a test. I'm not 100% sure. According to the field guide, picitiventris is supposed to have wormy shapes lines on its ventral scales. They also have more spotting on their sides. Check out the diagram in Conant's field guide.

I apologize for my wording. After reading it just now, I realize I wasn't that clear. I'll check the guide. Thanks

Mike: You are obviously better at checking the guide than I am. I was going by what I recall seeing many years ago. The banded does not come anywhere near this far south, & never has. I think I may have been confused by some having ventral markings that were black, while others had pretty red color to them. Those you pictured, since they came from this far south, are definitely all
N. fasciata pictiventris, since the nominate subspecies is found way up in northwest Florida. Sorry about that! ~~Greg~~

Hey Greg, no worries! I never specified locale information until I received it earlier today, which is when I sent you an email. These guys are from south Florida. Like the post Doug made, with so much variation in markings and color, it can be hard to tell without knowledge of location.

I'm glad to have nailed down what there are finally! Thanks again

Greg is correct about that. Most of the state of Florida is all pictiventris, but they can be extremely variable on their pattern, coloration, and bellies, even in the same pond..LOL!

I think this link will help clear some things up for you, as well as many others. The illustration along with the helpful captioning below it really help.

cheers, ~Doug
Range of banded Nerodia

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com