Barry Mansell photo.

Scientific name: Regina rigida sinicola

Description: Average adult size is 20 inches (50.8 cm), record is 31.5 inches (80 cm). Adults are glossy chocolate brown, there may be a faint darker stripe on each side of the body. The extreme lower sides are yellowish-tan. The throat is yellow and unpatterned. The belly is yellowish with two rows of black spots, but a single row exists near the head and tail. The scales are keeled and there are 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juvenile color is similar to that of adults.

Barry Mansell photo.

The head of the Gulf crayfish snake.

Gulf crayfish snake: Left to right: Top of the head (notice the large plate-like scales on the top of the head);
underside of the head (chin and throat).

Gulf crayfish snake: Left to right: Side of the head; front (face view) of the head.

Range: In Florida, it is found in the western panhandle. Outside of Florida, it is found from southern Georgia to eastern Texas.

Habitat: Uncommon, found in cypress strands, sloughs, sphagnum bogs, swamps, creeks, streams, ponds, prairies, and ditches.

Comments: . The glossy crayfish snake is aquatic. It is mainly nocturnal and is occasionally found crossing roads after heavy rains. It is mostly active from March-November.

Adults feed primarily on crayfish, fishes, sirens, frogs, and salamanders. Juveniles may also feed on aquatic invertebrates such as dragonfly larvae.

It is live-bearing. Newborns measuring between 7-8.5 inches (17.7-21.5 cm) have been reported.

Comparison with other species: The striped crayfish snake (Regina alleni) has an unpatterned belly and smooth scales. The Gulf crayfish snake (Regina rigida rigida) has faint, dusky stripes on the sides of the throat. The queen snake (Regina septemvittata) has four stripes on the belly.

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