Southern Watersnake
NON-VENOMOUS
Scientific name: Nerodia fasciata (LINNAEUS 1766)
The following key will separate the two Southern Watersnakes found in Florida. If you are unable to distinguish between them based on the characteristics in the key below, you probably can do so using the geographic location alone.
| 1a | Pattern of crossbands on back darkens with age, no dark spots in the light crossbands; belly with squarish spots; Florida panhandle through coastal plain to southern Alabama and North Carolina. | Banded Watersnake, Nerodia fasciata fasciata |
| 1b | Pattern of crossbands on back darkens with age, light crossbands contains dark spot on side; belly with red and black wormlike markings; peninsular Florida. | Florida Banded Watersnake, Nerodia fasciata pictiventris |
