Kenneth L. Krysko photo.

Scientific name: Storeria occipitomaculata obscura

Description: Average adult size is 8-10 inches (20.3- 25.4 cm), record is 16 inches (40.6 cm). Adults are small, thin, and grayish-brown to black. Top of head black. Faint striping down the back varies from one broad stripe, to 4 narrow stripes, to a combination of both patterns (5 stripes). Three light spots on the back of neck, which join together forming a band. There is a white spot under the eye on the scales of the upper lip. The belly normally is red, but may also be orange, yellow, or bluish-gray. The scales are keeled, and there are 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. Juveniles are grayish with a light band across back of neck.

Florida redbelly 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).

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

Range: In Florida, it is found from the northern peninsula to southern Georgia.

Habitat: Uncommon, found near hardwood hammocks, pinelands, bogs, marshes, ponds, swamps, and sloughs.

Comments: . The Florida redbelly snake is a terrestrial burrower, and prefers moist environments where it is found under dense vegetation, logs, rocks, and other debris.

It feeds on small slugs, snails, and earthworms.

It is live-bearing. Up to 23 young, 2.5-4 inches (6.3-10.1 cm) in length, are born from April-August.

Comparison with other species: The marsh brown snake (Storeria dekayi limnetes) has a light band across the back of neck (not head). The Florida brown snake (Storeria dekayi victa) has a dark spot under the eye, and a light band across the back of neck (not head). The midland brown snake (Storeria dekayi wrightorum) has a dark spot under the eye, a light band across the back of neck (not head), and may have dark lines across the back connecting the black spots along the mid-dorsal stripe. The southern ringsneck snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) is solid grayish-black, with a complete neck ring and black spotted yellow-orange belly.

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